A numerical study of loading on plate structures due to transient compressible flows

Minimizing the effects of explosions in complicated structures such as oil platforms and refineries is an important concern in the oil and gas industr y. Computational modeling of complete structures is unfeasible and thus sub grid modeling must be employed. To be able to do this the loading on indivi dual and small groups of objects must be understood. In this study a finite volume approach is used to model the loading on plat es which have a shock incident upon them. A two-dimensional, conservative, positive, upwind scheme for the Navier-Stokes equations based on a MUSCL ty pe Godunov scheme with Riemann solver is used. A k-epsilon model which allo ws for compressibility effects is also implemented to model turbulent effec ts. Plates are examined singly and in pairs in four different domains. Each dom ain is used to investigate a series of models which differ in the distance between plates, with some unexpected results. Comparisons are made between models in each series and also between different series. This allows a desc ription to be made of the effect of plates on other plates in both horizont al and vertical directions. (C) 2000 IMACS. Published by Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.