Numerical study of dynamic response and failure analysis of spherical storage tanks under external blast loading

The performance of energy infrastructures under extreme loading conditions, especially for blast and impact conditions, is of great importance despite the low probability for such events to occur. Due to catastrophic consequences of structural failure, it is crucial to improve the resistance of energy infrastructures against the impact of blasts. A TNT equivalent method is used to simulate a petroleum gas vapor cloud explosion when analyzing the dynamic responses of a spherical tank under external blast loads. The pressure distribution on the surface of a 1000 m³ spherical storage tank is investigated. The dynamic responses of the tank, such as the distribution of effective stress, structural displacement, failure mode and energy distribution under the blast loads are studied and the simulation results reveal that the reflected pressure on the spherical tank decreases gradually from the equator to the poles of the sphere. However, the effects of the shock wave reflection are not so evident on the pillars. The structural damage of the tank subjected to blast loads included partial pillar failure from bending deformation and significant stress concentration, which can be observed in the joint between the pillar and the bottom of the spherical shell. The main reason for the remarkable deformation and structural damage is because of the initial internal energy that the tank obtained from the blast shock wave. The liquid in the tank absorbs the energy of impact loads and reduces the response at the initial stage of damage after the impact of the blast.     

泄漏油气燃爆灾害下FPSO结构响应分析

为评估FPSO泄漏油气燃爆事故中结构损伤风险,采用等效TNT法结合AUTODYN软件分析结构在爆炸冲击波下动态响应,分析其塑性、变形及应力分布,评估不同工况下结构损伤程度。结果表明,TNT起爆后冲击波高速传播,10ms时已覆盖工艺I区,经反射叠加耦合后破坏力增强;原油热处理器和电脱盐器发生失效和变形,生产甲板边缘位置受约束较小,发生较大变形,部分区域屈曲破坏;参与反应的油气越多,相同结构等效应力及变形越大,大应力、大变形区域分布越广;d=60mm时部分结构完全失效。     

Study on the dynamic response of polyurea coated steel tank subjected to blast loadings

Steel tanks are widely used in the storage of various chemical liquids, and the blast resistance of the tanks is very important because of the explosiveness of these liquids. To explore a feasible method to improve the blast resistance of steel tanks, the effect of polyurea coating on the blast resistance of steel storage tank is investigated in this paper. The responses of monolithic steel tanks and polyurea coated tanks under blast loads are studied by field blast experiments using TNT explosive, and the results shows that the polyurea layers are effective in reducing the maximum and residual displacements of the tank. Numerical simulations are performed and validated, and the deformation process and stress and strain distribution of the tanks are analyzed accordingly. The increase on the bending moment of the plastic hinge lines of the tanks and the increase of the area density of the cylindrical shell induced by the polyurea layers are believed to be the two main factors contributing to the displacement reduction effect of polyurea in this paper. The validated numerical model is used to study the influence of polyurea layer's thickness on the deflection of the tank, and a nearly inversely proportional relationship between the thickness and the maximum displacement is found. Three deformation modes of the tanks are identified when subjected to blast load with varying intensity and it is found that the displacement reduction effect of polyurea varies in different deformation modes.     

事故树分析法在LPG储罐火灾爆炸事故中的应用

LPG(液化石油气)属于危险化学品之一,LPG储罐发生火灾爆炸的机率大,造成的损失比较严重,故对其火灾爆炸事故进行研究具有重要意义。LPG储罐爆炸根据其发生机理分为化学爆炸(燃爆)和物理爆炸两种模式。本文通过对LPG储罐燃爆﹑物理爆炸两类事故进行系统分析,建立了以LPG储罐燃爆、物理爆炸为顶事件的事故树。通过对其事故树的定性分析,得到了影响顶事件的各个最小割(径)集。通过计算底事件的结构重要度,确定了影响LPG储罐火灾爆炸事故的主要因素,并提出了相应的改进措施,进而提高LPG储罐的安全性和运行可靠性。     

液化石油气瓶站气体泄漏爆炸危险性研究

针对某个城市居民区的液化气瓶站,采用数值模拟方法计算在液化气钢瓶发生泄漏后,液化石油气发生爆炸对瓶站和周围建筑的冲击波和温度的影响;分析冲击波对建筑可能造成的损坏情况;根据模拟分析结果,提出了改进液化气瓶站安全性的技术措施。笔者计算和分析的结果及提出的安全技术措施,为保障周围建筑和人员安全提供了技术依据。     

危化品储罐区多灾种耦合效应风险分析

基于危化品储罐区内发生的多米诺效应，以单灾种引发的多米诺事故研究为基础，根据物理学中的触发器原理解释多灾种耦合引发储罐区其他罐体失效的场景，并提出基于物理学理论的多灾种耦合效应模型；基于一储罐区实例分别建立在火灾、爆炸情况下罐区的灾害扩展网络图，并通过无量纲化处理得到综合灾害扩展网络图；分析储罐区在多储罐受灾情况下的灾害扩展情形，得到当D1，D2发生灾害时，D4，D5灾害扩展概率最大；当D1，D8发生灾害时，D4灾害扩展概率最大，建立了多灾种耦合效应的关联图。研究结果对化工园区多灾种耦合的后果预测评估具有指导意义，有助于减少危化品储罐区多米诺效应的发生以及强化危化品储存的安全基础。     

Numerical investigation into dynamic responses of RC columns subjected for fire and blast

Structures may be exposed to fire and blast due to accidents (i.e. explosion of flammable gas in industrial structures) or terrorist attacks during the service life. Performances of RC structures subjected to extreme conditions of fire and blast, thus, have drawn much attention from academia. In this paper, the coupling effect of high temperature and high strain rate in concrete was firstly studied based on the experimental data to improve the damage plasticity concrete model in ABAQUS. Secondly, the transient heat transfer effects in different fire scenarios and following fire resistances of RC columns with constant axial forces were numerically investigated on the basis of the improved concrete model, which are validated by the corresponding test data, and the residual axial loading capacity of RC columns was quantitatively calculated. By incorporating the different merits of implicit algorithm applied to heat transfer analyses and explicit algorithm usually used in blast analyses, a numerical approach to analyze the responses of RC columns subjected to the coupling loadings of fire and blast was finally developed. Mid-span displacements and damage of the RC columns subjected to fire and explosions were quantitatively calculated and discussed. The proposed approach was demonstrated to be effective in predicting the responses of RC structures subjected to coupling loadings of fire and blast.     

某矿区老硐口毁闭爆破空气冲击波效应的评价

本文就某金矿区在对非法开采的平硐进行毁闭爆破时产生的空气冲击波的效应进行了分析评价,指出空气冲击波对附近村庄民房不构成破坏,只是由于强烈的爆破噪音给人以恐怖感,干扰了附近居民宁静正常的生活和生产。     

储油条件下拱顶油罐的油气爆炸实验

为研究储油条件下拱顶油罐油气爆炸的发展过程,设计了中尺度拱顶油罐油气爆炸实验台架,并完成了储油条件下油罐油气爆炸试验。实验结果表明:储油条件下油气爆炸会导致罐顶破坏,超压发展分为多个阶段,并出现强烈的超压振荡和二次爆炸现象,最大超压由二次爆炸所产生;爆炸最大超压随着初始油气体积分数的降低而升高;在储油条件下,油罐油气爆炸后会诱导产生二次爆炸现象,第2次爆炸超压峰值和升压速率均远大于第1次爆炸的数值,且二次爆炸对外场的影响更加明显;火焰强度随时间的变化曲线具有2个明显的峰值,其形成原因分别为第1次爆炸和第2次爆炸。     

化工储罐区空袭次生灾害危险性评价研究

根据化工储罐区及其遭空袭次生灾害的特点,以空袭次生灾害的影响范围作为危险性评价的标准,对化工储罐区的空袭次生灾害进行危险性评价。指出储罐遭空袭后的3种毁伤方式;给出储罐遭空袭发生的次生灾害及其扩散的形式与后果;阐述了化工储罐区空袭次生灾害的成灾机理;分别提出热辐射伤害、冲击波伤害和有毒有害物质扩散的危险性评价方法。以池火灾为例,建立了池火灾的危险性评价模型;论述了池火灾危险性评价的具体流程,并进行了案例分析,根据计算结果提出了相应的减灾对策。笔者认为,化工储罐区遭空袭后的次生灾害的危险性评价具有现实意义,对于化工园区、石化厂、危化品仓库等突发安全事故产生次生灾害的危险性评价同样具有重要的参考价值。     

Coupling effects of the explosion shock wave and heat radiation on the dynamic response of a fixed-roof tank

The occurrence of leakage in large tank farms or oil deposits can lead to fire or explosion accidents. Coupling effects of fire and explosion loadings can cause considerably more damage to adjacent tanks or buildings than either loading individually does. In this study, the combined loadings of the explosion shock wave and heat radiation from a pool fire on a neighboring empty fixed-roof tank were numerically investigated. The effects of the explosion shock wave intensity and relative height of the explosion center [the ratio of the height of the explosion center to the height of the tank (h_r)] were analyzed. The results indicate that tanks damaged by explosion shock waves have decreased fire resistance and critical buckling temperature. Moreover, the thermal buckling deformation of the predamaged tank largely depends on the explosion shock wave. With an increase in the explosion shock wave intensity or a decrease in h_r, the explosion shock wave has greater influence on the fire resistance of the tank, and the critical buckling temperature decreases. This paper can provide an understanding of the dynamics of a tank under explosion shock wave loading, and of the critical failure criterion and failure modes of a target tank under the coupled loading of the explosion shock wave and an adjacent pool fire.     

Seismic risk assessment of storage tanks in Turkish industrial facilities

In 1999, two earthquakes in northwest Turkey caused heavy damage to a large number of industrial facilities. This region is the most industrialized in the country, and heavy damage has a significant economic influence. Industrial storage tanks, ruptured by earthquakes, exascerbate damage through the spread of fire. Storage tanks are uniquely structured, tall cylindrical vessels, some supported by relatively short reinforced concrete columns. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the earthquake performance of Turkish industrial facilities, especially storage tanks in terms of earthquake resistance. Modeling a typical storage tank of an industrial facility helps to understand the structure’s seismic response. A model tank structure was modelled as a solid with lumped mass and spring systems. Performance estimation was done with 40 different earthquake data through nonlinear time history analyses. After the time history analyses, fragility analyses produced probabilistic seismic assessment for the tank model. For the model structure, analysis results were evaluated and compared. In the study, vulnerability of storage tanks in Turkey was determined and the probabilistic risk was defined with the results of the analysis.     

Assessment of the seismic effect of insulation on extra-large cryogenic liquid natural gas storage tanks

Insulation is typically used in extra-large double-walled cryogenic storage tanks that are used to store liquid natural gas (LNG). These vessels have been designed with the assumption that the insulation offers negligible structural resistance that might cause structural damage. Observation of the deformation of the insulation in such tanks leads to concern that the insulation may become sufficiently compacted to cause significant load transfer between the inner and outer tank. The inner tank, though protected from most external events by the outer tank, is only designed to contain the liquid gas. It is therefore much more sensitive to seismic effects. In this investigation, simplified and 3D finite element models are used to simulate the interaction effects of the fluid, inner tank, insulation and outer tank. This paper presents an initial analysis of the potential effects of LNG tank insulation under earthquake conditions and assesses the potential for structural damage by comparison of models that do or do not consider the insulation layer. The data reported and statistically sorted include the overturning moment, the base shear, the tank wall stress, and the wave height in the tank. The results show that the insulation layer has certain influence on seismic design of LNG tanks.     

Study of the situation deduction of a domino accident caused by overpressure in LPG storage tank area

The production and storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is gradually becoming larger and more intensive, which greatly increases the risk of the domino effect of an explosion accident in a storage tank area while improving production and management efficiency. This paper describes the construction of the domino effect scene of an explosion accident in an LPG storage tank area, the analysis of the characteristics of the LPG tank explosion shock wave and the target storage tank failure, and the creation of an ANSYS numerical model to derive the development trend and expansion law of the domino accident in the LPG storage tank area. The research showed that: 400 m³ tank T1 explosion shock waves spread to T2, T4, T5, T3, and T6, and the tank overpressures of 303 kPa, 303 kPa, 172 kPa, 81 kPa, and 61 kPa respectively. The critical values of the target storage tank failure overpressure-range threshold were 70 kPa and 60 m. After the explosion of the initial unit T1 tank, at 38 ms, the T2 and T4 storage tanks failed and exploded; at 56 ms, the T5 storage tank exploded for the third time; at 82 ms, the T3 storage tank exploded for the fourth time; and at 102 ms, the T6 storage tank exploded for the fifth time. With the increase of explosion sources, the failure overpressure of the target storage tank increased, and the interval between explosions continuously shortened, which reflected the expansion effect of the domino accident. The domino accident situation deduction in the LPG storage tank area provided a scientific basis for the safety layout, accident prevention and control, emergency rescue, and management of a chemical industry park.     

瓦斯爆炸传播过程中矿车激励效应的实验研究

为了分析矿车在矿井瓦斯爆炸传播过程中的激励效应,模拟井下工作环境,构建了实验管道,按照比例建造了矿车模型,分别设定一个矿车和三个矿车链接两种实验工况进行试验。根据冲击波传播过程中激励效应的形成机制,以爆炸传播过程中火焰和冲击波波阵面变化测试为主要测试目标,采用激光纹影的测试方法,分别观测了两种工况条件下下矿车区域附近爆炸冲击波畸变情况,捕获了冲击波经过矿车附近时,冲击波变化特征。根据试验观测,当冲击波经过障碍物附近时,波阵面明显发生畸变,而当三个矿车存在时,火焰出现了回流和绕流现象,燃烧强度和速度都明显增加,这一实验结果一方面证实了矿车对瓦斯爆炸存在明显的激励效应,同时指出矿车数量多,激励效应会更强。本文研究结果对瓦斯爆炸事故阻爆、隔爆技术开发和事故调查有一定的指导意义。     

爆破冲击荷载下隧道振动特性与安全性评价研究

隧道工程爆破施工引起衬砌结构以及地表建筑物破坏时有发生,研究隧道工程爆破振动效应以及安全性评价方法,对确保隧道工程施工安全十分重要。基于三维动力有限元分析方法,以某城市双连拱隧道工程爆破施工为例,探讨爆炸冲击荷载作用下隧道围岩介质动力响应特征。研究表明,爆破冲击对周围介质的影响具有时间滞后和累积损伤效应,只考虑爆破瞬时最大振动波速对围岩介质以及地表建筑物的影响不能真实反映爆破影响的实质。同时结合具体工程对地表建筑物爆破安全评价方法进行分析研究,建议将现代数值分析方法应用于复杂条件下隧道爆破安全性评价工作。     

Improved models of failure time for atmospheric tanks under the coupling effect of multiple pool fires

Fire accidents of chemical installations may cause domino effects in atmospheric tank farms, where a large amount of hazardous substances are stored or processed. Pool fire is a major form of fire accidents, and the thermal radiation from pool fire is the primary hazard of domino accidents. The coupling of multiple pool fires is a realistic and important accident phenomenon that enhances the propagation of domino accidents. However, previous research has mostly focused on the escalation of domino accidents induced by a single pool fire. To overcome the drawback, in this study, the failure of a storage tank under the coupling effect of multiple pool fires was studied in view of spatial and temporal synergistic process. The historical accident statistics indicated that the accident scenario of two-pool fires accounted for 30.6% in pool fires. The domino accident scenario involving three tanks is analyzed, and the typical layout of tanks is isosceles right triangle based on Chinese standard “GB50341-2014”. The thermal response and damage of a target tank heated by pool fires were numerically investigated. The volume of 500 m³, 3000 m³, 5000 m³ and 10000 m³ were selected. Flame temperature was obtained by FDS, and then was input onto the finite element model. The temperature field and stress field of target tanks were simulated by ABAQUS. The results showed that the temperature rise rate of the target tanks under multiple pool fires was higher than that under a single pool fire. The failure time of the tank under the coupling effect of multiple fires was lower than that under the superposition of multiple fires without the first stage. The stress and yield strength were compared to judge the failure of the target tank. The model of failure time for the tank under the coupling effect of pool fires was established. Through the verification, the deviation of this model is 4.02%, which is better than the deviation of 15.76% with Cozzani's model.     

工厂三维建模及其事故模拟

利用Microstation软件对某化工厂区进行三维建模,在考虑实际外界风向、风速,不同点火源位置等重要影响因素的条件下,运用计算流体动力学(CFD)软件FLACS,研究了有毒、易燃易爆的氯乙烯液化气体储罐安全阀气体泄漏和储罐底部物料管线液态氯乙烯的泄漏、蒸发、扩散和爆炸作用等过程,计算结果可以给出氯乙烯火灾、爆炸或扩散中毒等事故后果的影响范围和相关精确物理量。模拟结果表明,对于常温下的氯乙烯液化气体球罐,球罐安全阀泄漏后罐区及周边不会有燃烧或爆炸危险;而物料管线在特定的液相泄漏情景下,蒸发扩散的氯乙烯气云则有可能发生气云爆炸;但在弱约束条件下,爆炸冲击波作用比较微弱。该研究方法及其结果可以为石油化工企业选址、设计布局、安全规划、风险分析、应急救援及事故调查等提供更加准确的依据。     

基于风险的液化烃罐区建筑物抗爆荷载评估方法

为合理确定液化烃罐区周边建筑物的抗爆设防荷载，有效进行抗爆设计和防护，建立1套系统的抗爆设防荷载定量评估方法。以某液化烃罐区建筑物为例，计算172个爆炸场景，获得4组累积爆炸频率曲线，基于风险控制标准确定抗爆设防荷载。结果表明:爆炸场景发生频率应包括初始泄漏频率、气象概率、泄漏方向概率和延迟爆炸概率；获得的爆炸超压-累积频率曲线是确定抗爆设防荷载的基础，在爆炸超压较低时，与爆炸源中心距离不同的4面墙体的超压累积频率曲线极为接近；随着爆炸超压的继续增大，累积发生频率的差异逐渐明显；液化烃罐区建筑物的抗爆设防荷载应同时满足2个准则，即万年1次的风险可接受准则和风险可接受范围内爆炸超压最大化准则；根据该准则确定的液化烃罐区附近建筑物东墙的爆炸冲击波峰值入射超压为44.6 kPa，正压作用时间为89.3 ms。     

天然气储气罐破坏效应分析

针对城市天然气储气罐的不断兴建与发展趋势的大型化,对于已建和待建储罐区对周围环境的潜在安全性问题,指出运用破坏伤害范围评价法可直观地预测破坏效应。通过对储罐爆炸释放能量的估算,采用模拟比法结合TNT爆炸试验数据计算出距离储气罐不同距离处爆破冲击波超压值,运用超压准则模拟预测出不同规格、储压下储罐爆破破坏伤害严重程度及危及半径范围;采用世界银行推荐的危害关系式,结合伤害破坏等级分析天然气爆炸破坏效应并与爆破效应比较。5000m3储气罐、储压1.20MPa下,储罐爆破和天然气爆炸危及距离分别可达144.0m和247.7m。依据预测结果,可将罐区周围划分不同区域,为实际工程中罐区选址、建设、安全距离确定及安全预案制定提供参考。