A workshop on Mathematical Modelling of Heterogeneous Ignition, Combustion and Explosion will be held on 24-25 June 2009 at Imperial College, in London.

The overall aim is to enable better understanding of the processes of ignition, combustion and possible explosion in the manufacture, storage, transport and practical use of reactive materials. Such understanding will improve innovation and efficiency, and also help to address health and safety issues in the explosive materials production, transport and user industries.

The workshop topic is relevant to the defence and aerospace industries, mining and commercial explosives industries and those industries concerned with security and safety of potentially reactive media. Recent work has focussed mainly on condensed phase studies but there is no reason not to include other phases - dispersed and gas - this would encompass events such as the Buncefield Explosion and Fire (December 2005) and Hydrogen safety in the context of an alternative fuel economies. Here and in other areas of interest to industry and to the United Kingdom Explosion Liaison Group (UKELG), the workshop aims to explore opportunities to improve understanding through mathematical modelling.

While there is ongoing research activity in the academic community, expanding industrial interest and engagement has been made more difficult with the demise of industrial explosives and mining interests and by insularity of user agencies. This workshop aims to renew industry engagement with the research community, and so strong industrial participation is a key aim of this event.

The aim will be to identify the need, potential and possible solutions for mathematical modelling of processes in reactive, flammable and explosive media of industrial relevance. Thus, in bringing together industrial and academic participants the workshop aims to:

• identify current problems and future ambitions from industry
• formulate viable modelling projects
• stimulate joint research activity and establish ongoing industry/academic collaboration.

Format

The workshop will be oriented and focused by presentations on problem areas and examples, presented by the industrial participants, each of which will exemplify context and challenges in understanding processes of heterogeneous ignition, combustion or explosion.

On Day 1 talks will focus mainly on industrial condensed phase explosion problems and how modelling might have a role in the resolution of these in the future: discussion will focus on source terms, initiation, limiting flame acceleration and deflagration, characterizing DDT, detonation entrapment and reactor safety. On Day 2 we would hope to concentrate of gas phase explosion issues with particular reference to the Buncefield explosion and outcome of the technical committee enquiry. There will be ample opportunity on both days for separate discussions on how the modelling community might assist in the various scenarios posed in the different presentations. We will also set aside time to discuss ways of continuing with the Condensed Phase Network in some form.

Programme

The workshop is will run from 12:30 24 June to ~14:30 25 June 2009.

Wednesday 24th June

• 12:30 Registration & Buffet Lunch
• 13:30 Martin Braithwaite, Imperial College: Welcome and local arrangements
• 13:40 Peter Haskins, Qinetiq: Challenges in the modelling of initiation, growth and propagation of condensed phase detonation
• 14:10 Stephen Puttick, Syngenta: tba
• 14:40 Hans Michels, Imperial College: Some conclusions on the stability of improvised explosives based on hydrogen peroxide
• 15:10 Martin Braithwaite, Imperial College: Simulation of detonations in mining applications
• 15:40 Coffee and Tea
• 16:10 Peter Schildberg, BASF, Ludwigshafen: The need to calculate detonation pressure profiles and use them as a source term in FE calculations to quantify the response of containment subjected to these events
• 16:40 Discussion (possibly in syndicates)
• 19:00 Optional dinner in South Kensington

Thursday 25th June

• 09:00 Andrzej Pekalski, Shell Global Solutions: tba
• 09:40 Geoff Chamberlain, Loughborough University: The Buncefield explosion - a summary of Phase 1 of the Buncefield explosion mechanism technical group
• 10:30 Tea & Coffee
• 11:00 Stefan Ledin, HSL, Buxton: Modelling of health and safety related problems - future direction
• 11:40 Trygve Skjold, GEXCON: Current and future R&D activities at GexCon
• 12:30 Buffet lunch
• 13:30 Discussions (possibly in syndicates) and conclusions.

Arrangements and application form

Under the terms of an EPSRC grant it will be possible to cover attendance and subsistence costs for all, and reasonable travel and accommodation expenses for speakers and academic attendees – either for both days or single day attendance. There is an optional dinner on the 24th locally.

For further details follow the link below to the invitation and application form, and if you have further queries please contact Martin Braithwaite at Imperial College. The meeting secretary is Alicia Lithgow; tel. 0207 594 5699.

related resources:

»	Mathematical Modelling of Heterogeneous Ignition, Combustion and Explosion
	Invitation and application form