Underwater Explosion Experiments Research Articles

Experimental and numerical study on damage behavior of air-backed steel-concrete-steel composite panels subjected to underwater contact explosion

The damage behavior and explosion resistance of air-backed steel-concrete-steel (SCS) composite panels subjected to underwater contact explosions were investigated experimentally and numerically. Firstly, the underwater explosion experiments of the SCS panels were conducted using the novel test setup, and the final damage morphology and residual deflection of these panels were obtained. Secondly, the corresponding finite element model was established in LS-DYNA and validated against the test results, based on the refined numerical modelling, the damage process of the SCS composite panel under 200 g underwater contact explosion was reproduced. After that, the damage mechanism of the SCS panels was revealed through the analysis of internal energy absorption and stress wave propagation inside the SCS panels. Subsequently, the damage behavior of the SCS panels when subjected to underwater and air contact explosions was compared. Finally, a series of parametric analysis were performed to explore the effects of the material strength and structural form on the explosion resistance of SCS panels. Both the experimental and numerical results indicate that the SCS panels suffered global damage. The core concrete absorbed more than 80 % of the explosion energy and the restraint of the steel plates effectively reduced the spalling damage of the core concrete. The SCS composite panel makes full use of the advantages of concrete and steel panels, resulting in superior underwater explosion resistance.

Shock Response of Water-Protected Spherical Explosion Containment Vessels

Abstract Explosion containment vessels (ECVs) are important equipment used for underwater explosion experiment research. In this paper, a method is proposed to improve the blast resistance of the ECV by placing it in the water medium. The shock response caused by the underwater explosion in a spherical ECV is studied. The single-layer thin-walled spherical vessel shell submerged in an infinite domain water medium is deduced and simplified as a single-degree-of-freedom elastic vibration system with viscous damping. The underwater explosion shock wave is simplified to an exponential shock loading, and the analytical solutions of the radial shock vibration of the spherical shell are obtained using Duhamel's integrals. Compared with the numerical simulation results, the accuracy of the theoretical model is verified. The study results show that the water medium radiates out vibration energy and plays an important role in eliminating vibration through damping. It is found that the vibration damping ratio can be controlled by adjusting the vessel radius and thickness, so that the vibration of the shell can be controlled within three periods and the impact fatigue can be reduced. In addition, the radiation damping of the water medium greatly reduces the maximum radial displacement of the spherical shell, which significantly improves the blast resistance of the spherical shell.

Dynamic response of a hollow cylindrical shell subjected to a near-field underwater explosion

To investigate the dynamic response of a hollow cylindrical shell structure subjected to a near-field underwater explosion, underwater explosion experiments were conducted in a 2 × 2 × 2 m water tank, and high-speed cameras were used to record the interactions between the bubbles generated by the underwater explosion and the hollow cylindrical shell. The high-speed photography results showed that the cylindrical shell experienced a minor degree of deformation during the shock-wave stage. However, during the bubble-pulsation stage, the cylindrical shell experienced significant deformation that surpassed the deformation observed during the shock-wave stage. On this basis, combined with the damage results for the cylindrical shell, a numerical model for the hollow cylindrical shell subjected to an underwater explosion was established using LS-DYNA software. The dynamic process and damage mechanism of a hollow cylindrical shell that was subjected to a near-field underwater explosion were revealed by analyzing the pressures and strains of the shell elements, the velocities and displacements of the nodes, and the variations in the energy.

Shock waves at final stages of cavity collapse in non-homogeneous liquid with divergenceless flow

We show the emergence of shock waves at the final stages of the complete collapse of a spherical cavity in a liquid with a smoothly decreasing density. The well-known Rayleigh assumption of fluid homogeneity is altered, while maintaining that of divergenceless flow. The fundamental difference between both infinite liquids is that his has an infinite mass, while ours, a finite one. Given the ease of deformation of non-homogeneous media in relation to homogeneous ones, as observed in several materials, all Rayleigh results are modified, including the cavity wall speed and acceleration, total time of complete collapse, and distribution of pressure in the infinite liquid. Rather than the homogeneous Rayleigh fluid, our non-homogeneous liquid can support a finite local sound speed. As a result, we succeed to show the emergence of shock patterns at the final stages of the cavity collapse. The analytical formulation is compared with underwater implosion and explosion experiments and simulations. Possible applications as a benchmark test for hydrocodes are briefly discussed.

Automatic Optimization of JWL‐Miller parameters of HMX‐based aluminized explosive based on genetic algorithm

AbstractThe calibration of JWL‐Miller equation of state (EOS) parameters for aluminized explosive is a cumbersome but important work in explosive evaluation. Manual calibration is usually adopted while the work may be tedious and the optimal results may be unachievable. An automatic calibrating method was established to optimize this procedure based on genetic algorithm program and finite element software. Optimal JWL‐Miller EOS parameters were achieved by iterative calculation calibrating with cylinder test results and underwater‐explosion experiment results. Cylinder test results were adopted to illustrate the initial phase of explosion, and underwater explosion experiments were conducted to calibrating the Miller term of the equation of state. The results showed that the error between cylinder test and simulation result was less than 1 %, the error of underwater explosion impulse between test and simulation results was less than 3.73 %. The optimized parameters of JWL‐Miller EOS will be useful in the numerical simulation research of aluminized explosives.

Deformation characteristics of a ring-stiffened cylindrical shell induced by shock waves and coalesced bubbles in double-charge underwater explosions

This study investigates the deformation characteristics of a ring-stiffened cylindrical shell induced by shock waves and coalesced bubbles in double-charge underwater explosions. A numerical model for coupling underwater multi-point explosion loads with the cylindrical shell is established by the Arbitrary Lagrange Euler method, and underwater explosion experiments with double charges are also conducted. The numerical model's effectiveness is validated by comparing shock wave superposition characteristics, bubble coalescence processes, and bubble pulsation periods with the experimental results. Based on the numerical model, the influences of detonation intervals and layout angles of charge on shock wave superposition effects, temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of shock waves, and the evolution process of coalesced bubbles in underwater explosions with double charges are explored. Additionally, the deformation characteristics of cylindrical shells induced by shock waves and coalesced bubbles for double charges with different detonation intervals and layout angles of charge are analyzed. The results indicate that double charges can induce more substantial deformation on the cylindrical shell at a specific detonation interval than a single charge with equal total mass. During the shock wave phase, the cylindrical shell's deformation decreases nonlinearly with an increased layout angle. Conversely, during the bubble load phase, the deformation of the cylindrical shell shows an approximately linear decrease with an increase in layout angle. A critical angle exists, below which the impact of double charges on the cylindrical shell is more substantial when detonated with an interval than simultaneous detonation.

Study on structural damage mechanisms and defence of rectangular closed-section simplified hull girders with thinner plates under near-field underwater explosions

Understanding the damage mechanisms of typical ship structures under fatal underwater explosion loads is crucial for developing effective defensive measures. To provide references for enhancing the survivability of ships, this paper conducts analyses of the damage mechanisms of simplified hull girders (SHGs) using a combination of experimental and simulation methods, and proposes targeted structural improvements. Initially, two types of thin-walled rectangular closed-section SHGs are subjected to near-field underwater explosion experiments. Corresponding simulation models are established, and the validity of the computational results is verified. The progressive damage processes of SHGs in hogging and sagging are examined from a structural perspective. Furthermore, the thin-walled plate deformation transfer processes are analyzed. Finally, based on the analyzed damage mechanisms, targeted defensive structures for overall damage are designed. The study results show that enhancing the anti-deformation capability of the upper and lower edges of the side plates can effectively improve the overall bending resistance of the SHG.

Experimental and numerical simulation investigation of cavitation phenomenon during bubble pulsation process

The current research on the cavitation phenomenon in the underwater explosion process is focused on the shock wave phase. In this study, it was found that there was also significant cavitation during bubble pulsation. Underwater explosion experiments were carried out at the bottom of a sheet using 2.5 g of TNT, which also showed that: (a) Cavitation lasts for the same duration as the bubble contraction time, (b) A cavitation closure pressure, the peak of which is greater than the bubble pulsation pressure, is produced by the closing of the cavitation zone. A tensile cut-off model was introduced to simulate the cavitation phenomenon during bubble pulsation, and the formation mechanism was investigated. The numerical simulation results show that: (a) The cavitation phenomenon is visible when the sheet above the explosive and the explosion distance are between 0.93 and 1.17 times the radius of the largest bubble, or between 0.69 and 1.85 times the maximum radius of the bubble when the sheet below the explosive, (b) The cavitation region and cavitation closure pressure increase and decrease with increasing explosion distance, peaking at a value close to one times the theoretical maximum bubble radius, and (c) The cavitation zone shrinks and the cavitation closing pressure drops as sheet thickness increases.

Experimental study on the effect of titanium hydride content on the detonation performance of emulsion explosives

AbstractIn order to improve the explosion characteristics of emulsion explosives, titanium hydride was added to emulsion explosives to produce a new type of hydrogen storage emulsion explosives. Charges with different contents of titanium hydride were evaluated through underwater explosion experiments and detonation velocity tests. The tests on underwater explosion and detonation velocity reveal that compared to pure emulsion explosives, the detonation parameters of emulsion explosives containing titanium hydride showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. When the mass ratio of titanium hydride in the emulsion explosive is 1 % to 3 %, all detonation parameters have been improved to a certain extent. When the mass ratio of titanium hydride in the emulsion explosive is 3 % to 10 %, only part of the detonation parameters (specific impulse, specific shock energy, specific total energy and volume energy density) has been improved. The maximum increase of specific impulse, specific shock energy, specific total energy and volume energy density of emulsion explosive containing titanium hydride is 7.06 %, 8.95 %, 3.97 % and 8.22 %, respectively. Based on the analysis, it is evident that though powdered TiH2 participates in the detonation reaction process of the emulsion explosive, the majority of TiH2′s energy is released during the secondary reaction occurring after the detonation wave front. Therefore, the detonation performance of emulsion explosives can be effectively improved by adding a certain mass ratio of titanium hydride.

Dynamic compressive response of gradient truss–core sandwich structure subjected to underwater shock loading

The dynamic compressive responses of a multi–layer sandwich structures with the truss core were studied experimentally and numerically under the underwater explosion shock loading. A three–layer truss-core sandwich specimen was designed and fabricated from the stainless steel. The density gradient between core layers is realized by changing the cross-sectional size of the truss members in the core layer. A water tank explosion testing device was employed to carry out the underwater explosion experiment. The finite element method was used to investigate the influences of the layered strategy of structures and the density gradient between core layers on the dynamic response. The results reveal that the density–decreasing sandwich panels CBA has the optimal underwater explosion resistance, and the explosion resistance increases as the decrease of the density gradient ratio.

Experimental study of load characteristics caused by underwater explosion bubble collapsing in the neighborhood of a rigid wall

In this paper, a series of underwater explosion (UNDEX) experiments were carried out in a cubical explosion tank, to investigate the complex behaviors of one bubble collapsing near a vertical rigid wall. The evolution of the bubble was captured by a high-speed camera and the pressure caused by both the primary shock wave and the bubble collapse on the surface of the wall was measured by several sensors installed on the wall surface. Experimental results of the measured wall pressure and the resultant load impulse are compared with theoretical results that are calculated from the corrected empirical formula. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results is achieved. On this basis, the effects of the bubble-wall distance on the bubble behaviors and the corresponding explosion load characteristics on the rigid surface are analyzed and discussed. The result aims to provide a feasible reference for the study of near-field UNDEX bubble dynamics and the resultant load on structures nearby.

Temperature and pressure propagation characteristics in multi-media interfaces of PVDF pressure sensor near underwater explosion source

In this paper, based on the self-made PVDF pressure sensor, the underwater explosion test of the emulsion explosive was performed to verify the measurement accuracy of the self-made PVDF pressure sensor and the feasibility of the pressure measurement near the explosive source. Then the single column emulsion explosive and gram-grade Al/PTFE underwater explosion experiment and numerical simulation were carried out, and the error between the experimental and numerical simulation results is small (The difference between the pressure peaks obtained from the emulsion explosive experiment and numerical simulation is about 25.07 MPa and the pressure decay trend is close; the peak difference in lane 1 obtained by Al/PTFE experiment and simulation is about 23 MPa, the second peak difference is about 0.8 MPa, the pressure decay trend after the second peak is close, and the shock wave arrival moment in experiment lags the numerical simulation by about 30μs), which verifies the reliability of the simulation model. Meanwhile, the numerical simulation of explosion at a depth of 10m below sea level was performed, the evolutionary law of the sensor and water pressure at 1–10 times the charge diameter is expounded, the variable rule of temperature during sensor response period is analyzed. The numerical simulation results show that the time-history curve of pressure includes two stages: bubble microjet and shock wave propagation, which the bubble microjet pressure can reach 10 GPa, and the sensor structure and shock wave pressure test will not be affected within the response period. The time history curves of shock wave pressure in experiments are basically the same by comparing with the simulation results of underwater pressure at the same position, and impact temperature rise will affect the measurement accuracy of PVDF film, but the lasting time of heat conduction in the PVDF sensor is longer than the response period of impact pressure, therefore the influence of heat conduction on the test accuracy can be ignored.

Influence of overdriven detonation on the energy release of aluminized explosives in underwater explosion

An underwater explosion experiment was designed for the cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine-based aluminized explosives to study the influence of detonation conditions on the explosion performance and the afterburn reaction of aluminum (Al) particles. The research results showed that the performance of shock wave and bubble pulsation grew stronger under the influence of overdriven detonation (ODD), and the contribution of ODD to the bubble energy was associated with the proportion of the inner core and the outer coat. Considering the propagation characteristics of the detonation wave in the ordinary charge and the inner/outer charge, the attenuation of ODD and its role in the initial pressure of the bubble were investigated, and this relationship was used to establish a numerical model for the bubble dynamic behaviors of aluminized explosives. According to the experimental results, the correctness of the established model for the bubble dynamics under ODD was verified, and the variation laws of the afterburn reaction during the bubble pulsation were investigated. It was found that the initial pressure of the bubble under ODD was higher than that under steady detonation. The improvement on the initial pressure promoted the afterburn reaction during the accelerating expansion and enhanced the bubble expansion capacity to support the formation and propagation of shock waves. In the subsequent bubble pulsation, the duration of the decelerating expansion was significantly longer than that of the accelerating expansion, and the ODD had little effect on the afterburn reaction in this stage.

Damage mechanisms of a typical simplified hull girder with thinner plates subjected to near-field underwater explosions

Investigating the responses of simplified hull girder (SHG) structures subjected to underwater explosions can yield valuable research insights for real ships. However, previous literature experiments predominantly utilized SHGs with plates of large relative thickness. To examine the ships’ damage mechanisms, an underwater explosion experiment is conducted on an SHG with plates that closely approximate the relative thickness of those in real ships. After verifying the calculation accuracy, simulations of various cases are performed to obtain the response results. The damage mechanisms of the SHGs subjected to underwater explosions are discussed from the perspective of creases. The cumulative damage mechanism in a single underwater explosion is identified. Modes of collapse mechanisms, including hogging and sagging, are summarized, and prediction formulas for estimating the sizes of the core damage zone are provided. The results indicate that the damage phenomena on the thinner-walled SHG are more complex, resemble those observed in real ships, representing the evolution types from previous studies. For the SHG configuration employed, the hogging crease collapse mechanism exhibits an M-shaped pattern, while the sagging crease collapse mechanism displays a W-shaped pattern. The provided prediction formulas enable a quick estimation of the core damage zone size.

Study on Energy Output Characteristics of Aluminized Emulsion Explosive

In order to study the energy output characteristics of multi-component explosives mixed with aluminum powder and emulsified explosives, five groups of emulsified explosives containing aluminum with different proportions were used for underwater explosion experiments and overpressure tests in the air. The experimental data show that when the mass fraction of aluminum powder increases from 0% to 40%, the shock wave energy increases from 0.68 kJ·g-1 to 1.22 kJ·g-1, which increases by 79.41%. Bubble energy increased by 135.66% from 2.44 kJ·g-1 to 5.75 kJ·g-1; the total energy of underwater explosion increased by 123.40% from 3.12 kJ·g-1 to 6.97 kJ·g-1. The explosion overpressure in the air increased by 93.66% from 60.794 KPa to 117.734 KPa. Aluminum powder greatly increases the output level of emulsified explosives. Emulsified explosive containing aluminum has the characteristics of high working capacity and high explosive performance.

Effect of Al/O ratio on underwater explosion energy characteristics of CL‐20‐based aluminized explosives

AbstractTo study the underwater explosion energy characteristics of CL‐20‐based aluminized explosives with different Al/O ratio, underwater detonation parameters of explosives, including the shock wave peak pressure, the decay time, the bubble pulsation period, the shock wave energy and the bubble energy at 1 m, were measured by a series of underwater explosion experiments. The calculation model of CL‐20‐based aluminized explosive in the pool was established by using Ansys LS‐DYNA software and was calculated the shock wave energy and bubble pulsation period. The results showed that Al/O ratio significantly changed the energy output structure of CL‐20‐based aluminized explosives. With increasing Al/O ratio, the proportion of shock wave energy in the total energy decreased, while the proportion of bubble energy increased. When Al/O ratio was 0.35, the shock wave peak pressure and shock wave energy of the explosive were the largest, and when the ratio was 0.6, the bubble period and total energy reach their maximum; when the ratio was 0.94, the bubble energy and the bubble pulsation reached the maximum. The experimental values are in good agreement with the simulation results, and the model can be used to estimate the underwater detonation parameters of CL‐20‐based aluminized explosives with different Al/O ratio.

A shockwave calculation method for aluminized explosive of deep water explosion based on the Kirkwood‐Bethe model

AbstractTo calculate the shockwave propagation of deep water explosions for different explosives quickly and accurately, a calculation method, based on the Kirkwood‐Bethe theory, was proposed. At the same time, an underwater explosion experiment of the aluminized explosive was carried out in the pressure vessel under high hydrostatic pressure. Then, the calculated results and experimental results were compared for peak pressure, impulse and energy flux density. The results indicated that the proposed method can quickly and accurately determine the shockwave propagation of deep water explosions for the aluminized explosives, with satisfactory agreement with experimental data. Using the proposed method, the shockwave of aluminized explosive under the conditions of different charge weight, different depth and different distance were calculated, the propagation laws of peak pressure, impulse and energy flux density with depth and distance were obtained. The calculation method proposed could be used to calculate shockwave propagation for any kind of explosive, if only knows the parameters of detonation and JWL equation of state.

Experimental and numerical investigation on saturated concrete subjected to underwater contact explosion

The hydraulic concrete structures were partially or fully in direct contact with water during the service life. The mechanical properties of saturated concrete are different from dry concrete because of the presence of water. To investigate the underwater blast resistance mechanism of saturated concrete, saturated concrete slabs were first tested in underwater explosion experiments with different TNT masses of 2.5 g, 5 g, and 10 g. The experimental results showed that the crater on the front of the concrete slab was smaller than those on the back and the size of the crater increased with increasing mass of TNT. Numerical simulations were conducted and material parameters were determined based on additional tests: The damage model under different stress states was proposed by repeated loading and unloading tests in tension and compression under different confining pressures. The damage model was then embedded into the Holmquist-Johnson-Cook (HJC) model. Quasi-static and dynamic compression experiments were conducted to determine the material parameters of the saturated concrete. A three-dimensional fluid-solid coupling numerical model in ABAQUS was proposed for simulating the underwater explosion and its interaction with the saturated concrete slab. Finally, the mechanisms that produce differences in the damage pattern of concrete slabs at different explosive masses are revealed.

Interactions between a central bubble and a surrounding bubble cluster

The interaction of multiple bubbles is a complex physical problem. A simplified case of multiple bubbles is studied theoretically with a bubble located at the center of a circular bubble cluster. All bubbles in the cluster are equally spaced and own the same initial conditions as the central bubble. The unified theory for bubble dynamics [35] is applied to model the interaction between the central bubble and the circular bubble cluster. To account for the effect of the propagation time of pressure waves, the emission source of the wave is obtained by interpolating the physical information on the time axis. An underwater explosion experiment with two bubbles of different scales is used to validate the theoretical model. The effect of the bubble cluster with a variation in scale on the pulsation characteristics of the central bubble is studied.

Experimental Study on the Cumulative Damage of Shipboard Structure Subject to Near-field Underwater Explosions

To explore the cumulative damage law of near-field underwater explosions on the side of the ship structure, the multi-cabin model of the shipboard local structure is designed and applied to close-in underwater explosion experiments with different explosive masses and model conditions. The pressure load of the explosion shock wave near the water surface is obtained and analyzed. The damage results, such as the damage pattern of the model and the damage range of cabins, are acquired. The comprehensive comparison shows that: the secondary explosion on the side has a significant cumulative damage effect; the damage pattern of the structure is closely related to the proportional distance of the explosion. The damaged power of a single large charge explosion on the shipboard is bigger than the cumulative damage caused by two small explosions. The results of this study can provide a reference for the research on the damage and protection of the ship.