Author(s)

MICHEL-OLIVIER STURTZER, SOPHIE TRÉLAT

Abstract

The paper deals with an innovative methodology aimed at enhancing security of critical infrastructure and transport against the effects of explosive phenomena, in particular in the field of overseas and homeland security, as well as in the nuclear industry. In this context, the French–German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL) and the French Institute for Protection and Nuclear Safety (DEND, previously IRSN) cooperate since 2017 by sharing their expertise and experimental capabilities. The methodology developed in this article consists of performing applied research studies and reducedscaled experiments on reference targets facing representative threats. They rely on (i) the use of realtime pressure measurements to assess the mechanical loads at the targets surface and (ii) the capture of high-speed images of the supersonic flow interacting with the structures. One objective of the studies is to analyse efficiency of protective means and materials in terms of blast effects mitigation so as to propose guidelines on geometrical and structural dimensioning. This will contribute to building practical and normative recommendations for protection system design against explosive threats.

Keywords

blast effects, pressure measurements, high-speed imaging, scaling effects