Numerical Analysis on the Blast Field From Gas Pipeline Burst Considering Fluid-Structure Interaction

The blast wave propagates into the surrounding air when the high-pressure gas pipeline burst. Both temperature and pressure increase very rapidly. The generation of the blast wave and structural dynamic fracture are tightly coupled together during the burst of the high-pressure gas pipeline. However, fracture behavior and characteristics that influence blast waves’ intensity and spatial shape are rarely studied. This paper establishes a numerical model incorporating strain-based failure criteria for pipe material and fluid-structure coupling algorithm. The dynamic crack growth of the pipe and the outer blast wave propagation can be successfully captured in every timestep. The model is validated by comparing the simulated explosion pressure history and peak overpressure outside the pipeline with the experimental results. The blast wave intensity changes and the distribution of overpressure in the jet direction are clarified. Then some critical parameters of the resulting fracture and blast wave are examined, such as the pipe diameter and wall thickness. Specifically, the relationship between pipe fracture and the generated blast field is discussed, providing a deeper understanding of this highly transient and strong fluid-structure interaction problem. The results would benefit the prediction and accident investigation of high-pressure gas pipeline rupture.