Comparison of TNO multienergy and Baker-Strehlow-Tang models

Vapor cloud explosions (VCEs) cause considerable problems in the chemical and petrochemical industries. They generate damaging levels of overpressure and the possibility of human injury/death, and building/equipment damage. Predicting the possible consequences of VCEs is important to ensure the safe design of existing and new structures. Prediction of the overpressures resulting from a VCE is typically done using simplified (empirical) models, phenomenological models, and computational fluid dynamics models. The focus of this article is on two of the most frequently used simplified prediction methods: TNO multienergy and Baker-Strehlow-Tang models. These models are compared in terms of structural response and vulnerability of damage caused by an explosion.