An experimental study of vented explosions in a 3:1 aspect ratio cylindrical vessel

A study of vented explosions in a 3:1 length:diameter ratio, empty cylindrical tube is reported. The influence of vent area, relief failure pressure, ignition position, fuel type and tube orientation on flame speeds and the overpressures generated has been systematically investigated to elucidate how local conditions affect the severity of a vented explosion. Explosions in the vessel gave, rise to a number of pressure peaks, associated with the onset of unburned and burned gas venting, and the ignition of vented unburned gas external to the vessel, any one of which can be the dominant feature of observed pressure-time profiles depending upon the precise nature of the initial conditions. In total, the results described further the understanding of the physical processes which govern overpressure generation in an important class of practically relevant geometries, and provide data for the validation of mathematical models of explosions.