Numerical study of aerosol dispersion following the chemical explosion of plutonium-containing explosives under different wind speeds
Abstract
The regional atmospheric dispersion of radioactive smoke clouds generated by chemical explosions presents significant radiological hazards, necessitating accurate predictive modeling for effective emergency response and risk mitigation. This study utilizes an integrated large eddy simulation (LES) framework enhanced with density-gradient-based adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) to resolve diffusion flow fields, coupled with a discrete phase model (DPM) to investigate the multiscale transport behavior of plutonium aerosols within explosion plumes., This simulation framework addresses key limitations in existing models related to turbulent diffusion, particle inertia, and variability in wind fields. Validation against experimental data from the Green Field (GF) study demonstrates strong agreement with observed plume rise dynamics, achieving an error range of less than ±0.5 m (p > 0.05) during late-phase dispersion. Key findings indicate that particle size is a dominant factor influencing diffusion efficiency, with smaller particles (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Radioactive contamination and transfer
Particle Dynamics in Fluid Flows
Wind and Air Flow Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Nuclear Engineering and Technology
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 104200–104200
- Publication date
- 17 February 2026
- Language
- EN