Explosion Research Cooperative
The Explosion Research Cooperative (formerly known as the Technology Cooperative), is a joint industry research program organized by Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants, Inc. (BakerRisk) in 1993. The Cooperative program is funded by chemical, petrochemical and refining companies interested in understanding and predicting explosion hazards and their consequences on buildings, process equipment and people, as well as preventing or mitigating explosions, analyzing siting of occupied buildings, designing protective structures, and upgrading existing buildings. The goal of this ongoing program is to undertake studies aimed at solving problems common throughout these industries with the results, benefits, and costs being shared by all participating companies. The projects, scope of work, and proposed budgets for the studies are defined by vote of all participating companies at Cooperative meetings.
The studies conducted each year for the Cooperative provide valuable information that is shared with all participants. Results of prior year's research studies include significant advancements in:
- Predicting blast pressures,
- Evaluating blast performance of existing buildings,
- Upgrading existing buildings,
- Specifying criteria for blast design, and
- Evaluating potential damage to process equipment from terrorist threats.
2005 Program Year Studies
| Study No. 1: Development of an Improved Vulnerability Prediction Method | The purpose of this study is to develop an improved method for predicting injuries to occupants of blast-loaded buildings. The improved vulnerability relationship will be based on the BICADS model, which is supported by much more data and engineering analysis. |
| Study No. 2: Structural Analysis Spreadsheet (ISADS) Improvements | This study will provide improvements to the existing Integrated Structural Analysis and Design Spreadsheet (ISADS) used for structural analysis. The improvements are: saving input as text files; graphs provided with P-i diagrams in SDOF model; expansion of available boundary and loading conditions; and improvements to loading and solution control features. |
| Study No. 3: Guidelines for Protective Shields around Buildings | Conventional buildings at petrochemical plants are often incapable of adequately resisting blast loads. A methodology will be developed for an upgrade concept consisting of a protective shield constructed around the perimeter of an existing building. The resulting design tool will provide guidelines for this type of upgrade design. |
| Study No. 4: Effect of Water Spray/Curtain on Explosion Pressures | Waterspray technology offers a means of reducing both the severity and probability of a vapor cloud explosion (VCE). This study will present guidelines for assessing the potential benefit of using water spray to mitigate blast loads in industrial facilities. |
| Study No. 5: Web Site Storage of Studies | This project will update the Explosion Research Cooperative web site to permit secure access to current and past studies (for participants only). The web interface will be updated to improve the appearance and functionality of the site. |
| Study No. 6: Vented Enclosure Explosion Testing | Tests will be conducted to obtain internal and external blast load data for vented internal deflagrations in the presence of congestion. This will provide an improved basis for prediction of overpressure and impulse resulting from such a deflagration. |
| Study No. 7: Blast Vulnerability of Process Equipment | This study will provide a consistent method of estimating the damage to pipes and control systems as a follow-on from a 2004 study that developed a suite of damage curves for typical equipment-pipe interfaces, and equipment-control interfaces. The 2005 study will extend the results to include additional types of equipment and mounting arrangements. |
