Modeling of Munitions Fragmentation and Fragment Interaction With Containment Vessels and Shielding Systems

Design of pressure vessels intended to contain explosive blast and high velocity fragments can present several potential difficulties. The stresses and velocities resulting from explosive events generally result in highly non-linear material behavior, thereby limiting the applicability of standard design techniques. As a result, extensive testing is usually required to verify a containment vessel’s structural integrity. Computer simulation can be utilized to decrease the cost and time associated with vessel development. The Explosive Destruction System (EDS) was created by Sandia National Laboratories to safely dispose of aged chemical weapons. Development of the EDS system has provided a wealth of test data, quite useful for verification and improvement of computer-based predictive capabilities. The computer simulation code AUTODYN (currently being used at Sandia National Laboratories) provides an excellent basis for prediction of munition behavior as a result of explosive effects. Through comparison and refinement, appropriate simulation methods can be determined and integrated into future modeling efforts. Another computer code, CTH, has successfully predicted much of the physical behavior observed in EDS development and testing. Models created in AUTODYN 2-D can be compared with EDS data as well as results of the CTH modeling efforts, further refining the predictive capabilities of AUTODYN.