Prediction of blast wave effects on a developed site

The guidelines for protecting against and mitigating explosion hazards require knowledge and either the experimental or theoretical evaluation of blast wave parameters. To this end, this article proposes a numerical method for simulating blast wave propagation in complex geometries. This method permits an on-the-ground TNT-like explosion and the subsequent blast wave to be simulated, with the possibility of modifying the ground topology by adding a number of obstacles. The numerical model is explored from both a qualitative and quantitative point of view by comparing it to experimental data, with a correct determination of the wave amplitude and phase signature at different key-positions. The pressure and Mach number distributions deduced from simulations in complex congested areas highlight various fluid–solid interactions, such as regular reflections and diffractions. The iso-damage diagrams of different obstacle layouts are also presented and discussed.