Journal of Applied Science and Engineering

Published by Tamkang University Press

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Blast Wave Transmission in Full-Scale Multi-Node Tunnel Networks: Interaction Regimes, Wave Recompression, and Scaling Deviation

 2026

 Volume 32

Cheng-Wei Hung1, Sheng-Jung Pi2, and Pen-Chou Chen3

1Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Informatics, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Hsinchu 30401, Taiwan

2National Defense University, Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, School of National Defense Science, Taoyuan 33551, Taiwan

3Department of Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan

Received: April 4, 2026
Accepted: April 13, 2026
Publication Date: May 4, 2026

上傳圖片

Full-scale tunnel network configuration and monitoring-node layout, showing the interaction regime for closely spaced discontinuities and the quasi-independent regime for larger spacing. 

 Copyright The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are cited.

Download Citation:  BibTeX | http://dx.doi.org/10.6180/jase.202609_32.024  

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Blast-wave transmission in underground tunnel systems is strongly affected by sequential geometric discontinuities, yet most previous studies have focused on isolated tunnel components or short-distance propagation. This study investigates pressure transmission behavior in a 100 m full-scale multi-node tunnel network subjected to near-field external detonation. The network contains elbows, branching junctions, and cross-sectional transitions, representing a realistic underground protective access system. Numerical simulations were conducted using a validated arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian blast-analysis framework for 10 kg, 100 kg, and 500 kg C-4 charges. The validation lineage of the numerical framework, together with the mesh-sensitivity basis adopted in the present model, is summarized explicitly in the Methods section. To distinguish local geometric interaction from quasi-independent propagation, two spacing regimes were defined according to the hydraulic diameter of the tunnel. A Node Interaction Index (NII) was introduced to quantify the deviation between coupled multi-node transmission and independent attenuation prediction. The results show that closely spaced discontinuities produce wave recompression, extended positive-phase duration, and locally amplified peak pressure, whereas larger spacing leads to near-independent attenuation behavior. Comparison with conventional cube-root scaling further reveals a sustained deviation range in the full-scale tunnel network, indicating that classical similarity relations are conditionally valid in confined long-distance propagation. Across the three charge weights, the spatial pattern of interaction remains similar, while the persistence of impulse-related deviation becomes more pronounced as charge weight increases. The proposed interaction-aware framework provides a practical basis for blast-resistant assessment and design of underground protective tunnel systems.

Keywords:  Blast wave transmission; Tunnel network; near-field explosion; Full-scale simulation; Geometric discontinuity; Wave recompression; Sscaling deviation; Protective structures

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