The terminal phase of an unconfined hemispherical deflagration

The aerial pressure wave generated by the deflagration of a truly unconfined vapour cloud is known to be composed of a positive (overpressure) part as the flame expands, followed by a negative (underpressure) part, when the deflagration vanishes. Basically, this second part is ignored in safety predictions. The present study proposes an empirical method estimating the amplitude and the duration of the negative part of the wave, provided the mixture, the size of the cloud and the maximum flame velocity be known a priori, or estimated. This method is deduced from spherical piston flow model properties and results of small scale experiments carried out for flame spatial velocities in the range 5 to 200 m/s. Received 4 August 1995 / Accepted 12 December 1995