Explosion behavior investigation and safety assessment of large-format lithium-ion pouch cells

Large-format lithium-ion(Li-ion) batteries with high energy density for electric vehicles are prone to thermal runaway(or even explosion) under abusive conditions. In this study, overcharge induced explosion behaviors of large-format Li-ion pouch cells with Li[NiCoMn]Ocathode at different current rates(C-rates)(0.5C, 1C, 2C) were investigated. The explosion characteristics of the cells were elucidated by discussing the evolution of the cell voltage, the surface temperature and the shock wave pressure.Generally, the whole overcharge process could be divided into four stages according to the evolution of several key parameters and the overcharge behaviors;the overcharge C-rate has a great influence on cells’ thermal behaviors. The experimental results showed that the thermal runaway process of Liion cells caused by overcharging consisted of two kinds of explosions, physical explosion and chemical explosion. The existence of observable negative pressure zone in the pressure curves indicated that the Li-ion cells are not a self-supplying oxygen system during the explosion. Further, the explosion dynamics parameters were matched. An explosion TNT-equivalent conversion strategy that depended on the pressure of the shock wave was utilized to evaluate the released energy and its hazards. In addition, with respect to the overcharge of Li-ion pouch cells, a safety assessment method and a safety management method were proposed based on the explosion behaviors. From the perspective of battery safety, this study is of great significance for the safety design of Li-ion cells and can provide guidance for engineers to optimize the safety function of battery packs.

Dynamic responses of deep underground explosions based on improved Grigorian model

It is important to investigate the dynamic behaviors of deep rocks near explosion cavity to reveal the mechanisms of deformations and fractures. Some improvements are carried out for Grigorian model with focuses on the dilation effects and the relaxation effects of deep rocks, and the high pressure equations of states with Mie-Grüneisen form are also established. Numerical calculations of free field parameters for deep underground explosions are carried out based on the user subroutines which are compiled by means of the secondary development functions of LS-DYNA9703 D software. The histories of radial stress, radial velocity and radial displacement of rock particles are obtained, and the calculation results are compared with those of U.S. Hardhat nuclear test. It is indicated that the dynamic responses of free field for deep underground explosions are well simulated based on improved Grigorian model, and the calculation results are in good agreement with the data of U.S. Hardhat nuclear test. The peak values of particle velocities are consistent with those of test, but the waveform widths and the rising times are obviously greater than those without dilation effects. The attenuation rates of particle velocities are greater than the calculation results with classic plastic model, and they are consistent with the results of Hardhat nuclear test. The attenuation behaviors and the rising times of stress waves are well shown by introducing dilation effects and relaxation effects into the calculation model. Therefore, the defects of Grigorian model are avoided. It is also indicated that the initial stress has obvious influences on the waveforms of radial stress and the radial displacements of rock particles.

Quantitative Method of the Structural Damage Identification of Gas Explosion Based on Case Study:The Shanxi “11. 23” Explosion Investigation

In order to present a retrospective analysis of exposition accidents using input data from investigation processes,data from a specific accident was examined,in which we analyzed possible involved gas species（ liquefied petroleum gas; nature gas） and computed their concentrations and distributions based on the interactions between the structures and the effects of the explosion. In this study,5 scenarios were created to analyze the impact effect. Moreover,a coupling algorithm was put into practice,with a practical outflow boundary and joint strength are applied. Finally,the damage effects of each scenario were simulated. Our experimental results showed significant differences in the 5 scenarios concerning the damage effects on the building structures. The results from scenario 3 agree with the accident characteristics,demonstrating the effectiveness of our proposed modeling method. Our proposed method reflects gas properties,species and the concentration and distribution,and the simulated results validates the root cause,process,and consequences of accidental explosions. Furthermore,this method describes the evolution process of explosions in different building structures. Significantly,our model demonstrates the quantatative explosion effect of factors like gas species,gas volumes,and distributions of gases on explosion results. In this study,a feasible,effective,and quantitative method for structure safety is defined,which is helpful to accelerate the development of safer site regulations.