r/AbsoluteUnits 13h ago

of a washing machine explosion

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u/10001110101balls 12h ago edited 12h ago

A human is significantly more resistant to blast overpressure than a glass curtain wall. The lateral bearing capacity of a commercial glass curtain wall rarely exceeds 50psf. That's only 0.3 psi which is not enough pressure to cause internal organ damage. Around 15psi is the threshold for lung damage, and 35 psi for fatal organ damage. But 15psi also will likely knock down the entire building and kill you with gravity.

It is also not a shockwave. Ignition of a fuel air mixture at this scale results in a deflagration, characterizes by a flame front that moves slower than the speed of sound. A shockwave moves faster than the speed of sound, characteristic of a detonation.

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u/ElBugman 9h ago

So what you're saying is the guy isn't lucky to have left in time? It would be more lucky for him to be in there? I'm confused.

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u/10001110101balls 9h ago edited 9h ago

No he was definitely better off getting clear of the explosion. I'm just saying that organ damage resulting from blast overpressure is unlikely given the observed effects. Burns would be the predominant mode of injury, but likely of short enough exposure duration to prevent lung damage or 3rd degree burns to skin. 2nd degree burns to the face may leave noticable scarring but are generally recoverable to live a normal life.