La simulation directe des ondes de souffle générées par une explosion maîtrisée, ou accidentelle, est un problème délicat du fait des différentes échelles spatiales en jeu. De plus, en environnement réel (topographie, zone urbaine, …), l’onde de souffle interagit avec les obstacles géométriques en se réfléchissant, se diffractant et se recombinant. La forme du front devient complexe, rendant difficile voire impossible une estimation a priori des effets des explosions.Ce travail de thèse contribue à la mise au point d’une méthode de calcul rapide des ondes de souffle en présence d’obstacles. Il repose sur des modèles hyperboliques simplifiés de propagation d'ondes de choc extraits de la littérature, où seul le front incident est modélisé. Ceci permet une réduction significative du coût des simulations : les 5 équations d'Euler 3D sont réduites à un problème 2D à 2 équations. L’analyse du problème de Riemann met en évidence l’absence de solution de ces modèles lors de la diffraction sur un coin convexe dans certaines configurations fréquemment rencontrées en pratique. L’extension des modèles aux ordres supérieurs ne permet pas de corriger ce défaut. Nous levons cette limitation au travers d'une modification ad hoc. L’effet de souffle consécutif à une explosion est ensuite introduit à partir d’une loi expérimentale pression/distance. Du point de vue numérique, un algorithme Lagrangien conservatif de suivi de front est développé en 2D. Les tests montrent que ce nouveau modèle se compare favorablement à l’expérience, avec une réduction de plusieurs ordres de grandeur du temps de calcul en comparaison des méthodes de résolution directe des équations d’Euler. / The direct numerical simulation of blast waves (accidental or industrial explosions) is a challenging task due to the wide range of spatial and temporal scales involved. Moreover, in a real environment (topography, urban area …), the blast wave interacts with the geometrical obstacles resulting in reflection, diffraction and waves recombination phenomena. The shape of the front becomes complex, which limits the efficiency of simple empirical methods.This thesis aims at contributing to the development of a fast running method for blast waves propagation in presence of obstacles. This is achieved through the use of simplified hyperbolic models for shock waves propagation such as Geometrical Shock Dynamics (GSD) or Kinematic models. These models describe only the leading shock front. This leads to a drastic reduction of the computational cost, from 5 Euler equations at 3D to a 2D problem with 2 equations. However, the study of the Riemann problem shows that the solution of these models does not always exist in the case of the diffraction over a convex corner. We propose an ad-hoc extension of GSD in order to remove this limitation. The blast effects are also recovered through an empirical law available in free field. From a numerical point of view, a 2D conservative Lagrangian algorithm has been implemented and validated. First comparisons with experimental data show the good behaviour of this new model at nearly free computational cost compared to direct Euler methods.

With the increased frequency of accidental and deliberate explosions, the response of civil infrastructure systems to blast loading has become a research topic of great interest. However, with the high cost and complex safety and logistical issues associated with live explosives testing, North American blast resistant construction standards (e.g. ASCE 59-11 & CSA S850-12) recommend the use of shock tubes to simulate blast loads and evaluate relevant structural response. This study aims first at developing a 2D axisymmetric shock tube model, implemented in ANSYS Fluent, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, and then validating the model using the classical Sod’s shock tube problem solution, as well as available shock tube experimental test results. Subsequently, the developed model is compared to a more complex 3D model in terms of the pressure, velocity and gas density. The analysis results show that there is negligible difference between the two models for axisymmetric shock tube performance simulation. However, the 3D model is necessary to simulate non-axisymmetric shock tubes. The design of a shock tube depends on the intended application. As such, extensive analyses are performed in this study, using the developed 2D axisymmetric model, to evaluate the relationships between the blast wave characteristics and the shock tube design parameters. More specifically, the blast wave characteristics (e.g. peak reflected pressure, positive phase duration and the reflected impulse), were compared to the shock tube design parameters (e.g. the driver section pressure and length, the driven v section length, and perforation diameter and their locations). The results show that the peak reflected pressure increases as the driver pressure increases, while a decrease of the driven length increases the peak reflected pressure. In addition, the positive phase duration increases as both the driver length and driven length are increased. Finally, although shock tubes generally generate long positive phase durations, perforations located along the expansion section showed promising results in this study to generate short positive durations. Finally, the developed 2D axisymmetric model is used to optimize the dimensions of a proposed large-scale conical shock tube system developed for civil infrastructure blast response evaluation applications. The capabilities of this proposed shock tube system are further investigated by correlating its design parameters to a range of explosion threats identified by different hemispherical TNT charge weight and distance scenarios. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Les travaux de thèse présentés dans ce mémoire s’inscrivent dans le cadre du projet ANR BARPPRO. Ce programme de recherche vise à étudier l’influence d’une barrière de protection face à une explosion en régime de détonation. L’objectif est d’établir des méthodes de calcul rapides de classement des zones d’effets pour aider les industriels au dimensionnement des barrières de protection. L’une à partir d’abaques, valable pour des configurations en géométrie 2D, sur des plages spécifiées de paramètres importants retenus, avec une précision de +/- 5%. L’autre à partir d’une méthode d’estimation rapide basée notamment sur les chemins déployés, valable en géométrie 2D et en géométrie 3D, mais dont la précision estimée est de +/- 30%. Afin d’y parvenir, l’étude s’appuie sur trois volets : expérimental, simulation numérique et analytique. La partie expérimentale étudie plusieurs géométries de barrière de protection à petites échelles pour la détonation d’une charge gazeuse (propane-oxygène à la stoechiométrie). Les configurations expérimentées servent à la validation de l’outil de simulation numérique constitué du solveur HERA et de la plateforme de calcul TERA 100. Des abaques d’aide au dimensionnement ont pu être réalisés à partir de résultats fournis par l’outil de simulation (3125 configurations de barrière de protection, TNT). L’étude des différents phénomènes physiques présents a également permis de mettre en place une méthode d’estimation rapide basée sur des relations géométriques, analytiques et empiriques. L’analyse de ces résultats a permis d’établir quelques recommandations dans le dimensionnement d’une barrière de protection. Les abaques et le programme d’estimation rapide permettent à un ingénieur de dimensionner rapidement une barrière de protection en fonction de la configuration du terrain et de la position de la zone à protéger en aval du merlon. / This thesis is a part of the ANR BARPPRO project. This research program studies this influence of the protection barrier during an explosion detonation. The goal of this project is to establish fast-computation methods of area classification effects to help the industrial to design the protection barrier on the SEVESO sites. One from abacus, for configurations in 2D geometry on specified parameters used, with an accuracy of +/- 5%. The other from a fast-running method based on broken lines for configurations in 2D and 3D geometries, but the accuracy is +/- 30%. This study includes three approaches: experimental, numerical simulation and analytical approaches. The experimental part studies several geometries of the protection barrier for a gaseous explosion (stoichiometric propane-oxygen mixture) at small scales. The experimental configurations used to validate the numerical simulation tool constituted of the HERA software and the TERA 100 supercomputer. The overpressure charts were able to generate from the numerical results (3125 configurations of the barrier for a TNT charge). The analysis of these results allows to establish different recommendations in the design of the protection barrier. The study of the different physical phenomena present has also helped to set up a fast-running method based on the geometrical, empirical and analytical relations. All these tools will enable an engineer to analyze and estimate the evolution of overpressure around the barrier as a function of the site’s dimensions.

La dispersion de particules par une onde de souffle ou de choc induit la formation de structures régulières qui prennent la forme de jets de particules. Jusqu'à présent, les expériences n'ont été réalisées qu'en trois dimensions rendant difficile l'exploitation des données. Dans cette étude, une onde de souffle, générée à l'extrémité d'un tube à choc, débouche au centre d'un anneau de particules solides initialement confiné dans une cellule de Hele-Shaw. Pour la première fois, à partir d'une expérience de laboratoire, la formation de jets de particules est observée dans une configuration quasi bi-dimensionnelle et pour de faibles niveaux de pression. Grâce à un système de visualisation ultra-rapide, il a été mis en évidence que la sélection du nombre de jets de particules est un processus instationnaire. Nous avons observé que les jets de particules sont initialement formés à l'intérieur de l'anneau et sont ensuite expulsés à l'extérieur du front de particules en expansion. L'influence de nombreux paramètres, tels que la densité et le diamètre des particules, la surpression générée et la géométrie de l'anneau, ont été étudiées. La synthèse des résultats expérimentaux obtenus a permis d'établir certaines relations empiriques reliant le nombre de jets aux propriétés initiales. De plus, la formation de fines perturbations sur le front externe de la couche de particules a été observée. Ce phénomène est quant à lui indépendant des jets principaux et dépend seulement de la nature des particules. / The dispersion of particles by a blast or a shock wave induces the formation of coherent structures which take the form of particle jets. All the experiments conducted so far have been performed in three-dimensional geometry. In the present study, a blast wave, issuing from the discharge of a planar shock wave at the exit of a conventional shock tube, is generated in the center of a granular medium ring initially confined inside a Hele-Shaw cell. With the present experimental set-up, under impulsive acceleration, a solid particle jet formation is clearly obtained and observed in a quasi-two-dimensional configuration, for the first time. From fast flow visualizations, we highlighted that the selection of the number of jets is unsteady. We noticed, in all instances, that the jets are initially generated inside the particle ring and thereafter expelled outward. This point has not been observed in three-dimensional experiments. The influence of many parameters such as density and diameter of particles, the generated pressure and the geometry of the ring, has been studied. Empirical relationships were deduced from the experimental curves. Moreover, we observed in detail the formation of very thin perturbations created around the external surface of the dispersed particle layer. This phenomenon is independent of the main jet formation and solely depends on the nature of particles.

Dans cette recherche, un modèle de propagation d’ondes de choc sur grandes distances sur un environnement urbain est construit et validé. L’approche consiste à utiliser l’Equation Parabolique Nonlinéaire (NPE) comme base. Ce modèle est ensuite étendu afin de prendre en compte d’autres effets relatifs à la propagation du son en milieu extérieur (surfaces non planes, couches poreuses, etc.). La NPE est résolue en utilisant la méthode des différences finies et donne des résultats en accord avec d’autres méthodes numériques. Ce modèle déterministe est ensuite utilisé comme base pour la construction d’un modèle stochastique de propagation sur environnements urbains. La Théorie de l’Information et le Principe du Maximum d’Entropie permettent la construction d’un modèle probabiliste d’incertitudes intégrant la variabilité du système dans la NPE. Des résultats de référence sont obtenus grâce à une méthode exacte et permettent ainsi de valider les développements théoriques et l’approche utilisée / This research aims at developing and validating a numerical model for the study of blast wave propagation over large distances and over urban environments. The approach consists in using the Nonlinear Parabolic Equation (NPE) model as a basis. The model is then extended to handle various features of sound propagation outdoors (non-flat ground topographies, porous ground layers, etc.). The NPE is solved using the finite-difference method and is proved to be in good agreement with other numerical methods. This deterministic model is then used as a basis for the construction of a stochastic model for sound propagation over urban environments. Information Theory and the Maximum Entropy Principle enable the construction of a probabilistic model of uncertainties, which takes into account the variability of the urban environment within the NPE model. Reference results are obtained with an exact numerical method and allow us to validate the theoretical developments and the approach used

In Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, explosions accounted for 81% of all injuries; this is a higher casualty percentage than in any previous wars. Blast wave overpressure has recently been associated with varying levels of traumatic brain injury in soldiers exposed to blast loading. Presently, the injury mechanism behind primary blast brain injury is not well understood due to the complex interactions between the blast wave and the human body. Despite these limitations in the understanding of head injury thresholds, head kinematics are often used to predict the overall potential for head injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate head kinematics, and predict injury from a range of simulated blast loads at varying standoff distances and differing heights of bursts. The validated Generator of body data multi-body human surrogate model allows for numerical kinematic data simulation in explicit finite element method fluid structure interaction blast modeling. Two finite element methods were investigated to simulate blast interaction with humans, an enhanced blast uncoupled method, and an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eularian fully coupled method. The enhanced blast method defines an air blast function through the application of a blast pressure wave, including ground reflections, based on the explosives relative location to a target; the pressures curves are based on the Convention Weapons databases. LBE model is efficient for parametric numerical studies of blast interaction where the target response is the only necessary result. The ALE model, unlike classical Lagrangian methods, has a fixed finite element mesh that allows material to flow through it; this enables simulation of large deformation problems such as blast in an air medium and its subsequent interaction with structures. The ALE model should be used when research into a specific blast scenario is of interest, since this method is more computationally expensive. The ALE method can evaluate a blast scenario in more detail including: explosive detonation, blast wave development and propagation, near-field fireball effects, blast wave reflection, as well as 3D blast wave interaction, reflection and refraction with a target. Both approaches were validated against experimental blast tests performed by Defense Research and Development Valcartier and ConWep databases for peak pressure, arrival time, impulse, and curve shape. The models were in good agreement with one another and follow the experimental data trend showing an exponential reduction in peak acceleration with increasing standoff distance until the Mach stem effect reached head height. The Mach stem phenomenon is a shock front formed by the merging of the incident and reflected shock waves; it increases the applied peak pressure and duration of a blast wave thus expanding the potential head injury zone surrounding a raised explosive. The enhanced blast model was in good agreement with experimental data in the near-field, and mid-field; however, overestimated the peak acceleration, and head injury criteria values in the far-field due to an over predicted pressure impulse force. The ALE model also over predicted the response based on the head injury criteria at an increased standoff distance due to smearing of the blast wave over several finite elements leading to an increased duration loading. According to the Abbreviated Injury Scale, the models predicted a maximal level 6 injury for all explosive sizes in the near-field, with a rapid acceleration of the head over approximately 1 ms. There is a drastic exponential reduction in the insult force and potential injury received with increasing standoff distance outside of the near-field region of an explosive charge.