The simulation of dust effects from fragmenting charges

• Published in: International journal of numerical methods for heat & fluid flow Vol. 26; no. 3/4; pp. 999 - 1026
• Main Authors: Soto, Orlando A, Baum, Joseph D, Togashi, Fumiya, Löhner, Rainald, Frank, Robert A, Amini, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 03.05.2016
• Subjects: Atmospheric particulates; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulation; Damage; Design analysis; Dust; Dust storms; Energy; Engineering; Fluid flow; Fluids; Fragmentation; Heat; Heat treating; Mechanical engineering; Numerical analysis; Ordinary differential equations; Propagation; Radiation; Reinforced concrete; Series (mathematics); Simulation; Velocity; Dust-flow interaction; Large-scale fluid-structure interaction; High performance computing; Numerical methods; Fragmentation
• ISSN: 0961-5539; 1758-6585
• DOI: 10.1108/HFF-12-2015-0517

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the reason for the discrepancy in estimated and observed damage caused by fragmenting charges in closed environments. Design/methodology/approach – A series of carefully conducted physical and numerical experiments was conducted. The results were analyzed and compared. Findings – The analysis shows that for fragmenting charges in closed environments, dust plays a far larger role than previously thought, leading to much lower pressures and damage. Research limitations/implications – In light of these findings, many assumptions and results for fragmenting charges in closed environments need to be reconsidered. Practical implications – This implies that for a far larger class of problems than previously estimated it is imperative to take into consideration dust production and its effect on the resulting pressures. Originality/value – This is the first time such a finding has been reported in this context.