Numerical simulation of 2D and 3D hypervelocity impact using the SPH option in PAM-SHOCK(TM)

The Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method has been incorporated as a special solver into the explicit, finite element program PAM-SHOCK(TM), which environment provides the advantages of F.E. pre- and postprocessing to the particle method. A three-dimensional coupling of the particles to standard solid and shell elements has been introduced that allows the most efficient solver to be used for each part of the grid. The SPH solver of PAM-SHOCK(TM) has been applied to a number of HVI simulations in two and three dimensions. The computed shapes of craters, ejecta trajectories and debris clouds are compared to results from other numerical simulations and to experimental data in general. The influence of the SPH smoothing length parameter and of the equation of state model on the debris cloud and the damage to the backwall of a triple shield configuration is studied in two dimensions. Very good agreement is obtained with published results from a hydrocode calculation of oblique HVI on a 'stuffed' Whipple shield in plane symmetry. Preliminary results for three-dimensional simulations of oblique HVI will also be discussed. Finally, some initial results for the coupling of the particles to the Finite Elements will be discussed. The enhanced capabilities of PAM-SHOCK(TM) provide the ability to perform HVI simulations in two and three dimensions.