PUBLICATIONS AND VIDEOS

SUMMARY

This is the final report of the Buncefield Explosion Mechanism Phase 2 Joint Industry Project, which further investigated the 'Dispersion and Explosion Characteristics of Large Vapour Clouds'. The project’s ultimate objectives were to understand vapour cloud development following large losses of primary containment, the characteristics of explosions involving large flat flammable vapour clouds and the explosion mechanisms that can give rise to very high overpressures over a large area as observed in the Buncefield incident. This has been done through large and medium scale experimental studies supplemented by numerical analysis.

The project report is divided into two volumes. This report, Volume 1, provides an overview and a summary of the work undertaken, the results and the main findings. It draws from the content of Volume 2, which contains the final reports of the individual studies performed as part of the project, and which is available separately.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME 1

FOREWORD

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. BACKGROUND
   1. Buncefield and Similar Incidents
   2. The Buncefield Explosion Mechanism Project
2. OBJECTIVES, SCOPE AND ORGANISATION OF THE PROJECT
3. FLAMMABLE CLOUD FORMATION
   1. Objectives
   2. Key Findings
   3. Description of the Test Programme
   4. Summary of Experimental Observations
   5. Modelling of Vapour Cloud Development using CFD
   6. Simplified Method for Estimating Vapour Cloud Characteristics
4. EFFECT OF MIXED DIAMETER OBJECTS ON EXPLOSION CHARACTERISTICS
   1. Objectives
   2. Key Findings
   3. Description of the Test Programme
   4. Summary of Experimental Observations
5. EFFECT OF VEGETATION CONGESTION ON EXPLOSION CHARACTERISTICS
   1. Objectives
   2. Key Findings
   3. Description of the Medium Scale Test Programme
   4. Description of the Large Scale Test Programme
6. CHARACTERISTICS OF LARGE FLAT VAPOUR CLOUD DETONATIONS
   1. Objectives
   2. Key Findings
   3. Analytical Study
   4. Description of the Large Scale Detonation Test Programme
7. EXPLOSION RESPONSE OF INSTRUMENT BOXES
   1. Objectives
   2. Key Findings
   3. Analytical Techniques and Numerical Models
   4. Analysis Results
   5. Pressure-Impulse and Explosion Damage Diagrams
8. INVESTIGATION OF ALTERNATIVE EXPLOSION MECHANISMS
   1. Objectives
   2. Key Findings
   3. Description of the Test Programme
   4. Summary of Findings
9. REFERENCES