A new method to assess mitigation efficiency of a protective barrier against the effects of a vapor cloud explosion

Abstract : Accidental gas explosions represent an ever-present hazard for process industries handling flammable gases and liquids. There is also an increasing danger of vandals and terrorists using improvised explosive devices in industrial areas neighboring highly populated residential areas. The consecutive pressure wave generation and propagation can result in unacceptable risk exposition of citizens and infrastructures. Therefore, it is necessary to define design rules of protective barriers mitigating the effect of blast wave.