Strain rate effects on the response of stainless steel corrugated firewalls subjected to hydrocarbon explosions

The yield stress of a steel coupon can be enhanced beyond its quasi-static test values when subjected to dynamic load. A number of techniques, such as the overstress constitutive model, have evolved in the past to take account of the enhancement effects. This paper investigates the influence of strain rate modelling on the response of stainless steel corrugated firewalls subjected to blast loading generated from typical hydrocarbon explosions, paying particular attention in the event when the connecting weld between the firewalls and supporting angles has failed. Two failure models, namely the spot-weld model and the shear failure model, have been incorporated into the constitutive material model to account for the weld failure. The investigation involves the use of the commonly adopted overstress strain rate model and dynamic factors proposed in a recent report by the Health and Safety Executive to study the effects of high strain rates on offshore steels. Both approaches are compared and the limitations of the overstress model are highlighted. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.