Detonation-driven fracture in thin shell structures: Numerical studies

Detonation-driven fracture of thin structures is studied numerically by a 3D discrete crack meshfree method. These types of failure mechanisms play an important role in pipes and vessels. I therefore proposed a three-dimensional meshfree method and an efficient discrete crack model to describe crack propagation. The method is based on separation of particles similar to the visibility method but its implementation is more efficient. I assume here through-thickness cracks though the method can be extended to crack growth in arbitrary directions. The load is applied as travelling pressure wave obtained from pure fluid simulation in accordance with experimental measurements. Numerical results to experimental data show good agreement. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.