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 cylindri cal tube is reported. The influence of vent area, relief failure pressure, ignition position, fuel type and tube orientation on flame speeds and the o verpressures generated has been systematically investigated to elucidate ho w local conditions affect the severity of a vented explosion. Explosions in the vessel gave, rise to a number of pressure peaks, associated with the o nset of unburned and burned gas venting, and the ignition of vented unburne d 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 understand ing of the physical processes which govern overpressure generation in an im portant class of practically relevant geometries, and provide data for the validation of mathematical models of explosions.