Chester, AlastairHazael, RachaelCritchley, Richard2024-11-272024-11-272024-12-31Chester A, Hazael R, Critchley R. (2024) Comparative analysis of blast prediction software for far-field shock wave effects behind a blast wall. International Journal of Protective Structures, Available online 12 September 20242041-4196https://doi.org/10.1177/20414196241284299https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/23229This paper investigates a selection of current and emerging software used in the prediction of overpressure generated through the detonation of a high explosive in the far field behind a blast wall. In particular, this paper compares the software Autodyn, blastFoam, ProSAir, Viper::Blast and WALAIR++. These packages are compared by simulating a 100 kg TNT explosive charge at a stand-off distance of 25 m from a complex structure, then reviewing the performance in terms of the overpressure results, speed of each modelling package, the degree of effect from mesh, and domain sizes and ease of use. A live experimental trial representing the simulation was also performed, although it used a similar but different explosive, for a high-level comparison. The live-trial instrumentation design details are reviewed and compared with best practice. The choice of software is found to lead to variations in peak pressure predictions of 28%, specific impulse by 10% and the simulation speed can vary by a factor of up to 1600 for this type of study. This shows that the choice of blast software package can have a significant impact on the accuracy and attainability of blast predictions.enAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/simulationblast testingcomputational modellinghigh explosives4005 Civil Engineering40 Engineering4016 Materials Engineering4017 Mechanical EngineeringBioengineering4005 Civil engineering4016 Materials engineering4017 Mechanical engineeringArticle2041-420X552322