Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
www.advisian.com
Blast Analysis Minimising the risk and effect of
explosions
Since the industrial revolution a number of disastrous incidents have occurred as our best safety measures fail because of negligence or technical default.
To secure the safety of an organisation’s most valuable asset – its people – the nature and effect of a blast event must be fully understood before it occurs to minimise its effect.
The Advisian Click-on Blast Tool was developed to
do just that.
It quickly and easily quantifies blast
pressures applied to structures and accounts for their vulnerabilities.
BLAST ANALYSIS: 4 KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
As a result of a blast, what pressure is generated at each occupied building?
What will the blast do to the building?
How many people will be in the building?
What proportion of those in the building will survive?
1.
2.3.4.
Generating pressure vesselsPressure vessels contain volumes of different types of chemicals. Eventually they will find a point of ignition (i.e. a pickup truck in the case of Texas City or electrical relays igniting the mixture of fuel and air leading to a large explosion).
UNDERSTANDING THE PRESSURE GENERATED
Identifying potential blast sourcesThe Click-on Blast Tool allows users to identify potential sources of a blast and then determine its likely impact on the buildings and people within the facility.
UNDERSTANDING THE PRESSURE GENERATED
Example of peak overpressures
UNDERSTANDING THE PRESSURE GENERATED
Blast wave propagationTo determine the pressure that each building sees as a result of an explosion, there are empirical relationships which give the overpressure as a function of distance from the blast source. Alternatively, computational fluid dynamics incorporating combustion can be used to provide a more accurate estimate of the incident overpressure.
UNDERSTANDING A BUILDING’S RESPONSE TO A BLAST
Vulnerability Curves
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Probability of Serious Injury / Fatality
Peak
Ove
rpre
ssur
e (p
si)
B5 B1 B3
Building vulnerabilityBuildings have different levels of vulnerability according to the nature of their construction. The most vulnerable is the B3 type building. This is particularly dangerous because of shards of glass and bricks thrown by a blast which can cause significant injury to people within and around the building.A B1 type building would be temporary structure such as an ATCO hut. Control rooms with a post-disaster role are generally bunker-like and characterised as a B5 type building.
UNDERSTANDING OCCUPANCY ACROSS THE FACILITY
Facility occupation over timeThe occupation level at different locations across a facility over time can be accumulated to determine the potential for injury.
Facility occupation over timeThe Click-on Blast Tool allows users to visually see the occupation of a site’s buildings at a certain time. Simulations can then be carried out to determine the buildings most at risk with regard to its structure and occupancy.
UNDERSTANDING OCCUPANCY ACROSS THE FACILITY
BUT… what you really want to know….
How many people will survive?
UNDERSTANDING WHAT PROPORTION WILL SURVIVE
Overpressure vs. fatalitiesUsers can export vulnerability curves based on the level of overpressure vs. the number of fatalities.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT PROPORTION WILL SURVIVE
Fatality distribution chartsFatality distribution charts determining potential fatalities by either blast sources OR buildings can be generated.
Cost-benefit Analysis
…if there is a budget of $5m, is it best to spend it
on relocating staff or on building strengthening?
If simulations determine a high frequency of blast events, clearly the situation is unacceptable. Risk mitigation:More frequent inspections can reduce the number of blast events, moving the entire curve down. Reducing the inventory of material in different vessels, removing people from the site, or hardening structures can reduce fatalities, moving the whole curve to the left.
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Assess and compare different optionsThe Click-on Blast Tool allows different options to be quickly assessed and compared. It identifies the sources of blast which are dominant at a particular location, and allows the user to quickly determine the viability of different locations for future occupied building developments.The user can then determine if building strengthening or staff relocation gives the best return on investment in a safety sense.
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
With safety as a key concern in high-risk industries, as well as governments, the Click-on Blast Tool compares the effectiveness of different measures to reduce overall risk, quickly evaluate the position of different facilities and assess the condition of occupied buildings if an explosion was to occur.
It can be applied to chemical plants, nuclear facilities and other industrial, government and community facilities where blast, toxic gas or thermal radiation events could potentially occur.
Contact: David HoPrincipal Consultant – Advanced AnalysisE: [email protected]
Visit our website: www.advisian.com
Find out more
DISCLAIMERThis presentation has been prepared by a representative of Advisian.The presentation contains the professional and personal opinions of the presenter, which are given in good faith. As such, opinions presented herein may not always necessarily reflect the position of Advisian as a whole, its officers or executive.Any forward-looking statements included in this presentation will involve subjective judgment and analysis and are subject to uncertainties, risks and contingencies—many of which are outside the control of, and may be unknown to, Advisian. Advisian and all associated entities and representatives make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of information in this document and do not take responsibility for updating any information or correcting any error or omission that may become apparent after this document has been issued.To the extent permitted by law, Advisian and its officers, employees, related bodies and agents disclaim all liability—direct, indirect or consequential (and whether or not arising out of the negligence, default or lack of care of Advisian and/or any of its agents)—for any loss or damage suffered by a recipient or other persons arising out of, or in connection with, any use or reliance on this presentation or information.
