Witte, Larry C.2022-09-232022-09-23197013806217https://hdl.handle.net/10657/11967The vapor explosion, resulting from the very rapid heat transfer process that can take place when a hot, molten material comes into contact with a cooler liquid (which has a boiling point much less than that of the molten material), was analytically investigated. Fragmentation or particle atomization was shown to be a necessary prerequisite for vapor explosions. Also, the various mechanisms of fragmentation of molten materials which have been proposed were critically examined and compared to available data from controlled experiments and recorded explosion disasters.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Thesisreformatted digital