ABSTRACT
In gas explosions on offshore platforms, very high gas flow velocities can be generated. Although this high flow only lasts for a short time, it can impart a significant amount of kinetic energy to loose or poorly secured objects. These flying objects, or missiles, could cause further damage to equipment and loss of containment. In addition to missile characteristics, ego its shape, the potential for damage depends upon the efficiency with which energy from the gas explosion is transferred to missiles. In this paper, a method to calculate the maximum speed of missiles is described. This is illustrated with examples using objects commonly found on offshore platforms, such as scaffold clips, and using gas velocities calculated from numerical simulations of gas explosions on offshore platforms.
