Explosion Protection Engineering Curriculum Map

The XPE curriculum map gives students a clear pathway through the Explosion Protection Engineering program. It shows how foundational science, explosion physics, case studies, risk analysis, protection design, computational modeling, applied consequence modeling, and failure analysis fit together across the degree.

The map is especially useful for students entering from different backgrounds — chemical engineering, fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, and core sciences such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Each discipline brings useful preparation; the map helps students see how their background connects to the skills needed to predict explosion behavior, quantify risk, design prevention and protection systems, simulate consequences, and investigate failures.

Predict explosion behavior

Quantify risk

Design protection

Simulate consequences

Investigate failures

For studentsSee how your technical background connects to the sequence of XPE courses and skills.

For advisorsUse the map to discuss preparation, course order, and areas for deeper study.

For industryUnderstand how the curriculum develops analysis, design, modeling, and investigation capability.

Hover over a course title to see the semester, instructor, and course description. Hover over any numbered topic cell to see a short description of that module. On phones or tablets, tap a cell to open the callout.

Curriculum Map: Courses and Topic Areas

Course	CombustionFP 580 / AE 5233Spring	Explosion DynamicsFP 585Fall	Practical Explosion AnalysisFP 588Fall	Quantitative Risk AnalysisFP 582Spring	Explosion ProtectionFP 575Spring	Explosion Modeling - FundamentalsFP 580FSummer	Explosion Modeling - ApplicationsFP 580ASpring	Failure AnalysisFP 572Summer
Role	Combustion Fundamentals	Explosion physics	Learning from incidents	Risk-based decisions	Engineering of Explosion Prevention and Protection Systems	Computational foundations	Applied consequence modeling	Investigation and diagnosis
1	Chemical Thermodynamics	Classify explosion types	Overview of Explosion Incidents	Define and measure risk	Introduction and Fundamental Concepts of Explosions	Overview of explosion modeling	Overview of applied explosion models	Investigation basics
2	Chemical Kinetics	Ignition and Semenov theory	Ammonium Nitrate	Develop failure scenarios	Vented Gas Explosions	Model chemical kinetics	Viper::Blast - Beirut case study	Interpret explosion/fire patterns
3	Transport Phenomena	Shock waves and Hugoniot relations	Hydrogen	Estimate extent of failures	Vented Dust Explosions	Model vapor accumulation	Meshing and geometry setup	Electrical failure analysis
4	Conservation Equations	Premixed flame propagation	Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosions	Assess failure consequences	Detonation, DDT, and Arresters	Model compressible flow	Blast injury models - Peterborough case	Gas failure analysis
5	Simplifying Conservation Equations	Closed-vessel explosion model	Runaway Reactions	Use risk matrices	Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA)	Model turbulence	Internal blast models	Toxicity and exposure issues
6	Premixed Combustion Waves	Vented explosion model	House Explosions	Apply FMEA and HAZOP	Explosion Suppression and Inerting	Model vapor cloud explosions	Post-processing: ParaView and Sidewinder	Origin and cause analysis
7	Deflagration Fundamentals	Flammable vapor accumulation	Unusual Explosion Types	Use semiquantitative methods	Explosion Isolation	Model residential gas explosions	Dynamic structural response	Failure analysis tools
8	Non-premixed Flames	Vapor cloud explosion (VCE)	Dust Explosions	Build fault trees	External Explosions (EMs, PVB, VCE, BLEVE)	Model dust explosions	Case applications: Oklahoma, Oslo, London	Incendiary cases
9	Limit Phenomena	Deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT)	BLEVE	Perform risk calculations	Explosion Prevention and HazLoc	Validate models and quantify uncertainty	Empirical blast methods	Vehicle explosions
10	High-fidelity Computations	Dust explosion fundamentals	NFPA 921	Understand regulatory context	Explosion Protection Case Studies	Integrated modeling project and reporting	Realistic geometry simulation	Marine explosions

Additional foundational option: CHE 571: Transport Phenomena — Fall

From coursework to original explosion protection research

For students interested in a deeper research path, the MS thesis option can extend the curriculum into a faculty-mentored, industry-relevant project. The map helps students see where a thesis idea may fit — from combustion and explosion dynamics to risk analysis, protection design, modeling, consequence assessment, or failure investigation.

Student and Professional Perspectives

These testimonials show how students and practicing professionals connect XPE coursework to fire protection engineering, process safety, investigation, risk engineering, standards, and emerging energy technologies.

Program Perspective

Ben Gaudet, P.E.

R&D Manager, UL Solutions Fire Research and Development

I joined WPI’s Explosion Protection Engineering graduate certificate program to learn more of the fundamentals needed to tackle the hybrid fire and explosion safety problems facing industry today. With XPE growing alongside WPI’s Fire Protection Engineering program, students and professionals now have access to experts from both fields under one roof.

Ben Gaudet leads the UL Solutions fire research and development group near Chicago. His technical areas include fire safety standards, fire and explosion testing, lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, and fire modeling.

AE 5233 / FP 580 — Combustion

Amelia Kokernak

This course is a challenging yet enjoyable introduction to combustion physics. It connects thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, fluid dynamics, and molecular transport into a framework for understanding reacting flows. I left with a strong foundation that proved invaluable for research and higher-level graduate courses in AE and XPE.

FP 585 — Explosion Dynamics

Keven-Matthew Larrivee-Fontaine

Explosion Dynamics gives students the fundamentals needed to pursue explosion protection. It was one of the better online courses I’ve taken because of the active back-and-forth with the professor and classmates, which kept me engaged and helped the material stick.

FP 588 — Practical Explosion Analysis

John Walser

Fire Protection Consultant, Fire & Risk Alliance

Recent catastrophic failures have shown the need for a better understanding of explosion risks facing communities today and into the future. Dr. Babrauskas’s extensive background provides valuable historical context while also focusing on future fire protection needs. The course helped me build practical capabilities demanded by regulators and fire protection firms.

FP 588 — Practical Explosion Analysis

Evan Benson

Firefighter/Paramedic, Mansfield Fire Department, Greater Boston

As a fire investigator, I was drawn to FP 588 because I wanted to better understand the explosion side of fire protection. The class was practical, thought-provoking, and immediately useful. We discussed real cases and explored how theory and explosion dynamics applied to each one.

FP 575 — Explosion Protection

Srikanth Yajjala

International Codes & Standards Consultant, FM India

FP 575 Explosion Protection provides a rigorous combination of fundamental science and applied engineering principles for explosion hazards. The course connects deflagration dynamics, combustion behavior, ignition sensitivity, and pressure development with practical design approaches aligned with NFPA, FM, and European standards.