Study of blast wave overpressures using the computational fluid dynamics Estudo das sobrepressões da onda de choque de uma explosão utilizando a fluidodinâmica computacional

Resumo The threats of bomb attacks by criminal organizations and accidental events involving chemical explosives are a danger to the people and buildings. Due the severity of these issues and the need of data required for a safety design, more research is required about explosions and shock waves. This paper presents an assessment of blast wave overpressures using computational fluid dynamics software. Analyses of phenomena as reflection of shock waves and channeling effects are done and a comparison between numerical results and analytical predictions has been executed, based on the simulation of several models. The results of this paper suggest that the common analytical predictions aren’t accurate enough for an overpressure analysis in small stand-off distances and that poorly designed buildings may increase the shock wave overpressures due multiple blast wave reflections, increasing the destructive potential of the explosions.