Fluid-structure interaction analysis of a thick-section composite cylinder subjected to underwater blast loading

The dynamic response of a thick-section hollow composite cylinder, under plane-strain conditions, subjected to an external blast loading, with and without fluid-coupling effects, was investigated using finite-element analysis and effective modulus theory. The blast loading profile is representative of the primary pressure pulse created by an underwater explosion occurring far from the cylinder. In this analysis, fluid-structure-coupling effects were included by employing a loading routine in the finite-element analysis. A plane incident pressure wave impacting the cylinder and propagating around it with a fixed velocity, was considered. The effects of reflected and radiated pressure components were included. The accuracy of effective modulus theory in dynamic-stress analysis was briefly explored. A commercial finite-element code, ABAQUS, was used for this analysis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.