Accumulated Damage Model for Blast Propagation in Compartmented Structures with Progressively Failing Thin Bulkheads

摘要

This report addresses the development of a model for blast propagation in compartmented structures with progressively failing thin structural elements like windows. The mathematical model is based on the assumption that the frangible structural features (a) are thin compared to the characteristic length scale, (b) do not deform much before breakage, and (c) fail instantaneously when the corresponding accumulated damage reaches some threshold. The presented numerical model employs a variation of the Godunov scheme for blast propagation, coupled with a simple governing equation for the accumulated damage of finite elements constituting a structural feature with empirical coecients estimated from the pressure-impulse diagram. When the accumulated damage exceeds some threshold value, a group of nite elements representing a designated entity like a single window, is forced to fail thus instantaneously changing the computational domain topology. The illustrative numerical simulations in three dimensions demonstrate that the model behaves reasonably well and is capable of providing rough estimates of progressive failure and blast transfer within and between compartmented structures.