The premixed stoichiometric methane-air deflagration is conducted in a transparent square cross-section duct. Effects of the ignition positions on the overpressure characteristics of the premixed methane-air deflagration flame propagating in the duct closed at one end and open at the opposite end are obtained. The experimental results show that the pressure waveform changes from no oscillation to weak oscillation with the equiamplitude then to sharp oscillation with the exponential increase amplitude as the ignition positions relative to the closed end of the duct are increased. The generation mechanism of the overpressure is closely dependent on the transient flame structures and the overpressure extrema of the oscillating waveforms always correspond to the flame position extrema. The oscillation periods of the overpressure waveforms during the phase of the exponential increase amplitude are linearly decreased with the time since ignition and well correlated with the length of the unburnt gas column. The oscillation is triggered by the venting of the flame front located at the open end of the duct

and then amplified by the flame-sound interaction in the unburnt gas column between the pressure wave and the flame front located at the closed end of the duct.