In this paper, a coupled scheme utilizing advantages of the Runge–Kutta discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) method and finite elements is applied to investigate cavitation induced by rarefaction waves during a near-field underwater explosion of cylindrical charge. A high-order RKDG method has advantages of an accurate shock capturing. So, it was used to solve a governing Eulerian equation for a compressible fluid. A finite-element method (FEM) was suitable to deal with problems of a shock response of structures and, therefore, applied for structural analysis. The suggested method was used to study pressure characteristics and cavitation effects of underwater explosions of cylindrical charges near single/double plates. First, a cavitation model was introduced in the RKDG method, and a numerical model of a high-pressure bubble in a cylinder was developed. The obtained numerical results were compared with the known solution in order to verify the validity of the suggested method. Second, a RKDG-FEM model of underwater explosion of a spherical charge near a plate was developed; its results for maximum deflection at the centre of the plate were compared with experimental data to prove the effectiveness of the coupled algorithm. Then, this algorithm was employed to simulate the process of underwater explosions of cylindrical charges near a single plate. Here, effects of different parameters - thickness of the plate and a distance between the charge and the plate - on pressure and cavitation characteristics were studied. Finally, a numerical model of double plates subjected to a near-field underwater explosion was developed. Cavitation evolution and its effect on shock-wave loading were analysed. Additionally, the effect of the distance between two plates was studied. The suggested analysis and its results provide a reference for load characteristics of near-field underwater explosions and shock response of structures.
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Composite Structures and the definitive published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.08.002A high-speed metal jet capable to cause severe damage to a double-hull structure can be produced after detonation of a shaped charge. A Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method with a mesh-free and Lagrange formulations has natural advantages in solving extremely dynamic problems. Hence, it was used to simulate the formation process of a shaped-charge jet. A Finite Element Method (FEM) is suitable for a structural analysis and is highly efficient for simulations of a complex impact process in a relatively short time; therefore, it was applied to develop a double-hull model. In this paper, a hybrid algorithm fully utilizing advantages of both SPH and FEM is proposed to simulate a metal-jet penetration into a double hull made of different materials – steel and SPS (Sandwich Plate System). First, a SPH-FEM model of a sphere impacting a plate was developed, and its results were compared with experimental data to validate the suggested algorithm. Second, numerical models of steel/SPS double-hull subjected to a shaped-charge jet were developed and their results for jet formation, a penetration process and a damage response were analysed and compared. The obtained results show that the velocity of the metal jet tended to decrease from its tip to the tail during its formation process. The jet broke into separate fragments after the first steel shell was penetrated, causing the damage zone of the second shell that grew as a result of continuous impact by fragments. As for the SPS structure, its damage zone was smaller, and the jet trended to bend becoming thinner due to the resistance of the composite layer. It was found that the polyurethane layer could have a protective effect for the second shell