Fluid-structure interaction simulation of the effects of underwater explosion on submerged structures

Abstract

This paper is concerned with predicting the nonlinear response of submerged structures to pressure shock waves from underwater explosion (UNDEX) using a novel numerical simulation scheme. Apart from examining the nature of the effects of UNDEX, existing numerical simulation approaches to handle such problems are also critically evaluated. The proposed numerical scheme involves coupling the structural explicit finite element solver Abaqus/Explicit™ with the Lattice-Boltzmann CFD solver XFlow™. Abaqus Co-simulation Engine (CSE) is used to run the solvers as a single, efficient and a sequentially run‐time coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis. Actual experimental benchmark test data is used to successfully validate the numerical predictions of the proposed scheme and additional insight into the response of tubular structures to pressure shock waves due to UNDEX is realized. The superior performance of the proposed scheme as compared to the existing ones makes it an attractive choice for numerical simulation of real-life UNDEX problems. • Critical issues of numerical simulation of UNDEX problems are examined. • Coupled analysis of UNDEX problems involving fluid and structure interaction using Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) for fluid dynamics simulation and nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural simulation. • Coupling of the two methods for fluid-structure interaction in UNDEX situation is accomplished by mobilizing a co-simulation approach. • Numerical results of the study are validated with established experimental data.