Item: Design and Testing of Blast Shield for Avalanche Control used by the Colorado Department of Transportation
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Title: Design and Testing of Blast Shield for Avalanche Control used by the Colorado Department of Transportation
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Vilem Petr [ Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA ]
- Eduardo Lozano [ Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: An accidental explosion took place in March 2014 while performing an avalanche control operation in Loveland, Colorado. After the unfortunate events, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) requested an engineering solution for the protection of the crew during avalanche mitigation missions using explosive materials. The use of explosives brings countless benefits to our everyday lives in areas such as mining, oil and gas exploration, demolition or avalanche control. However, because of their potential destructive power, strict safety distances and procedures must be an integral part of any explosives operation. The goal of this paper is to overview a solution against the hazards that unfortunately accompany the use of explosives during avalanche control missions. For this reason, a blast shield is specifically designed and tested for protecting personnel against these unpredictable effects allowing the reduction of the operation distances. This document summarizes the technical analysis and experimental validation that were conducted for the creation of this shield and which is currently used by CDOT (sixteen mobile blast shields). The following questions are addressed: what are the potential hazards from an air blast (primary, secondary, and tertiary blast damage); what are their effects on the human body; and how the crew and general public can be protected against them. Advance Explosives Research Processing Group (AXPRO) performed experimental and numerical studies in order to answer these questions. AXPRO also developed calculation procedures and experimental validation for the determination of minimum safety distances. Finally, a full blast shield prototype was repeatedly tested at the Explosives Research Laboratory (ERL) in Idaho Springs, Colorado) under real blast loading conditions.
Object ID: ISSW16_P2.51.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Barrier, Blast Wave, Fragmentation, High Explosives, Safety
Page Number(s): 929-936
Subjects: explosives worker safety avalanche mitigation
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