A field explosion test of hydrogen-air mixtures

This paper shows the experimental results and findings of field explosion tests conducted to obtain fundamental data concerning the explosion of hydrogen-air mixtures. A tent covered with thin plastic sheets was filled with hydrogen/air mixed gas, and subsequently ignited by an electric-spark or explosives to induce deflagration and/or detonation. Several experiments with different concentrations and/or volumes of mixture were carried out. The static overpressure of blast waves was measured using piezoelectric pressure sensors. The recorded data show that the shape of the pressure-time histories of the resulting blast waves depends on the difference in the ignition method used. The pictures of the explosion phenomenon (deflagration and/or detonation) were taken by high-speed cameras.