DC project Bijzondere Belastingen

Abstract

In this Delft Cluster work package “Bijzondere Belastingen” (CT01.21) the consequences of an accident with the transport of explosion hazardous goods are considered: BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) and gas explosion. These phenomena have a low probability of occurrence, but might have immense consequences. Therefore, a deterministic consideration is not possible. The results of the work package must facilitate the quantitative risk analysis of the phenomena, which supports the authorities in their decision of allowing transport of dangerous goods through tunnels or not. The work package focus is on the mechanical description of the loading and the response. However, it requires an interdisciplinary approach, which integrates knowledge of risk analysis, explosion and evaporation of liquid gases, structural dynamics and dynamics of soil. The work package plan contains two main stream research lines: 1. Loading due to BLEVE and gas explosion. The BLEVE research is mainly executed in a PhD-study at Delft University of Technology. This part focuses on an improved understanding and modelling of the BLEVE phenomenon. TNO Defence and Safety will participate in this research line by introduction of practical mechanical modelling of the vessel behaviour and creation of a practical engineering model for a BLEVE load, based on the results of the PhD-study. 2. Dynamical Response of the structure-soil system under loading by a BLEVE and gas explosion loading. Here TNO Built Environment and Geosciences concentrates on the structural part of the problem, while Deltares and Delft University of Technology will take care of the soil response. TNO Defence and Safety will provide data on appropriate loads for realistic cases.