Detonation propagation velocity behavior and cellular structure of stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixture in spiral obstacles with four roughness (xi = 0.133, 0.231, 0.4, 0.625) are systematically examined, at the conditions outside-, near- and within the propagation limits. The experimental results indicate that, at p(o) = 10 kPa (outside the limits), spirals with roughness smaller than 0.4 facilitate the initiation of detonation, but = 0.625 spiral causes the detonation quench earlier than that in smooth tube without spiral, and suggests it has prohibiting effect on the detonation propagation. At pa = 12 kPa (near the detonation limits), spirals with xi = 0.133 and 0.231 extend the detonation limits and therefore they have the facilitating effect on the detonation propagation, but this positive effect is not obvious in the spiral with larger roughness (i.e., xi = 0.4 and 0.625). As the initial pressure is higher than 15 kPa, under such condition detonations are well within the limits, the dual effects of promoting and prohibiting of the spiral on the detonation propagation are more obvious, which are confirmed by the cellular structures obtained from smoked foil. The ZND induction zone length (Delta(I)) analysis confirms Delta(I) is shorter at higher initial pressure, under this condition detonation is more sensitive and easier to survive from failure as it enters into the spiral section. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.