Experimental Investigation of Fluid-structure Interaction in the Case of Hydrogen/Air Detonation Impacting a Thin Plate

In recent years, the use and development of hydrogen as a carbon-free energy carrier have grown. However as hydrogen is flammable with air, safety issues are raised. In the case of ignition, especially in confined space, the flame can accelerate and reach the detonation regime, causing severe structural damage [1].
To assess these safety issues, it is required to understand the fluid-structure interaction in the case of a detonation impacting a deformable structure and to quantify and model this interaction [2]. At the CEA (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux energies alternatives) a combustion tube experimental facility [3] for studying the fluid-structure interaction in the case of hydrogen combustion has been developed. Several Photomultipliers and Pressure sensors are placed along the tube to monitor the flame acceleration and the detonation location. A fluid-structure interaction (FSI) module or a non-deformable flange can be placed at the end of the tube. Post-processing of the sensor’s signal will provide insight into the occurring phenomena inside the tube.
Several experimental campaigns have been conducted, with various initial conditions and configurations at the end of the tube. In this contribution, the experiments resulting in a detonation are presented. First, the recorded pressure and velocities will be compared to theoretical values coming from combustion models [4] [5]. Secondly, the impulse before and after reflection for thin plate and non-deformable flange will be compared to quantify the energy transmitted to the plate and the influence of the fluid-structure interaction on the reflected shock.