The Explosive and Energetics Research Group is internationally recognized for modeling, simulation and development of shaped charge warheads.
The animation to the right simulated the formation of a shaped charge jet and its penetration through a target.
Techniques have been developed and experimentally validated for predicting hypervelocity impact and penetration under a wide range of conditions and research interests. Each of the techniques are built around the ANSYS AUTODYN family of eulerian and lagrangian finite difference codes. Chart 1 a simulation of an oblique impact of long rod impact against a submerged target.
Actual Results
Predicted Results
Excellent agreement between an observed bow shock developed ahead of a hypervelocity rod transiting through water and prediction is shown provides capabilities of estimating impulsive loading potential against subsurface targets.
Recently developed Segmented Erosion Analysis (“SEA”) technique is employed for estimating reaction conditions between hydro-reactive penetrators and water. Reaction conditions predicted include (a) the spatial and temporal distribution of eroding mass, (2) the changes in internal energy along the penetrator and water interfacial boundaries.
The quantification of explosive hazards is an extremely important consideration of warhead development, usually requiring numerous tests under a wide range of conditions and threat stimuli. The Explosives and Energetics Material Research Group has developed a number of techniques for accurately predicting the susceptibility of explosives to impact and shock. An example of a Gap Test simulation is shown here. This test subjects an explosive (“Acceptor”) to a shock from a calibrated “donor” at a range of separation distances. The separation is provided by a “Gap” composed of varying thicknesses of polymethylmerthacrylate (PMMA). The conventional test arrangement is shown in the upper left hand figure. The bottom pictures show (on the left hand side) the detonation pressure buildup along the length of the “donor” and the attenuation of the shock across the PMMA. The immediate pressure build-up in the “acceptor” explosive is shown in the left-hand side of each figure. High order detonation is predicted if the pressure increases along the entire run distance, low-order detonation (detonation failure) is predicted if the pressure decreases after the initial build-up.
