Following the Beirut Port explosion on August 4th, 2020, a global response emerged to spatially delineate the resultant injuries and damage caused by the blast. Central to these efforts was understanding how a blast wave moves through a complex urban environment, with initial assessments using comparisons between extracted data and simplified free-air scenarios, albeit with acknowledged limitations. While Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations could build upon this by capturing the required event complexity, uncertainties persist due to scarce experimental validation data. However, replicating large-scale events is often challenging and costly, and so leveraging blast scaling laws to gather empirical data from gram-scale charges provides a useful alternative.
Throughout this talk, the authors present the key findings from a stream of research that aims to combine experimental developments in this field with numerical investigations that critically interrogate the suitability of existing solvers for assessing urban blast. This is presented alongside the development of Fast Running Engineering Models (FREMs) that will benefit from the findings made in both aspects of this work within the urban streetscape and offer some tips on potential solutions.
The Terrorism Risk Assessment, Modelling and Mitigation Seminar Series (TRAMMSS) is a virtual seminar series focused on technical topics related to terrorism risk assessment, and modelling, including blast modelling and response; IEDs; vehicles as weapons; CBRN; big data for risk assessment, security and screening; and associated mitigation measures.
Speakers
Dr Dain George Farrimond is a Research Associate in Blast Protection Engineering at the University of Sheffield. Building on from his PhD, titled "Characterisation of Blast Loading from Ideal and Non-ideal Explosives”, he focuses primarily on the development of novel experimental capabilities to continue this research. Particular interests consider the mechanisms behind detonation procedures, with an increasing focus on the complexity of shock wave dynamics within urban environments. Dain Farrimond | LinkedIn
Dr Adam Dennis completed his PhD in the Blast and Impact Dynamics research group at the University of Sheffield in early 2024. His project, titled 'Machine Learning Tools for Blast Load Prediction in Obstructed Environments', explored a range of methods for developing rapid analysis tools that can assist with human injury prediction and structural damage estimations. He is now continuing this work within the group, whilst also acting as numerical modelling lead for commercial and academic research projects. Adam Dennis | LinkedIn
Who should attend
This seminar is open to guests from outside Cranfield, who may work in academia, research, or industry. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of this seminar series, guests should be able to show that they are affiliated with an appropriate bona fide organisation.
Cost
The event is free of charge, but participants must register for the TRAMMSS mailing list in advance.How to register
To attend this seminar, you must register for the TRAMMSS mailing list via the online form. Further information on the TRAMMSS community can be found on the main website at cranfield.ac.uk/TRAMMSS.
