Study on Explosion Effects of a Spherical Reticulated Shell Under Internal Explosions

Due to the propagation characteristics of explosion shock waves, the stiffness of the structure and its components has an important influence on the explosion effects of the reticulated shell. However, the current research on this problem is insufficient. In this paper, a parametric model for the numerical simulation of spherical reticulated shell structure under internal explosion was established using the finite-element software. Based on the built model, the dynamic responses of a spherical reticulated shell under internal explosion were numerically simulated and analyzed. In addition, the influence of the stiffness of the reticulated shell bars, the stiffness of the connectors, and the stiffness of the roof panels on the explosion effects of the spherical reticulated shell structure under internal explosions were researched. The results show that with an increase in the flexural stiffness of the reticulated shell bars, the kinetic energy and the maximum node displacement responses of the spherical reticulated shell are reduced. However, the magnitude of these decreases gradually decline. The results also reveal that the greater the stiffness of the connectors, the greater the internal energy, the kinetic energy and the maximum node displacement responses. The increase in the stiffness of the connectors is disadvantageous to the anti-explosion properties of the spherical reticulated shell structure. In addition, the research indicated that there is a threshold value to the stiffness (thickness) of the roof panels with regard to the influence of the explosion effects of the spherical reticulated shell, in the case of a certain amount of explosives. With an increase in the stiffness (thickness) of the roof panels, the displacement responses of the spherical reticulated shell under internal explosion decrease if the stiffness (thickness) of the roof panels exceeds the threshold value. Finally, some suggestions for explosion proof and anti-explosion design of the long-span spherical reticulated structures are proposed.