A meshless treatment of three-dimensional penetrator targets for parallel computation

A meshless modeling procedure of three-dimensional targets for penetration analysis on parallel computing systems is described. Buried structures are modeled by arbitrary layers of concrete and geologic materials, and the projectile is modeled by standard finite elements. Penetration resistance of the buried structure is provided by functions derived from principles of dynamic cavity expansion. The resistance functions are influenced by the target material properties and projectile kinematics. Additional capabilities accommodate the varying structural and geometrical characteristics of the target. Coupling between the finite elements and the meshless target model is made by applying resistance loads to elements on the outer surface of the projectile mesh. Penetration experiments verify the approach. In this manner, the target is effectively modeled and the strategy is well suited for parallel processing. The procedure is incorporated into an explicit transient dynamics code, using mesh partitioning for a coarse grain parallel processing paradigm. Message Passing Interface (MPI) is used for all interprocessor communication. Large detailed finite element analyses of projectiles are performed on up to several hundred processors with excellent scalability. The efficiency of the strategy is demonstrated by analyses executed on several types of scalable computing platforms.