Numerical simulation of underwater contact explosion

Underwater contact explosion involves lots of complex issues such as high speed, strong compression, large deformation and density ratio, multi-phase flow, etc., which makes the numerical simulation extremely difficult. In this paper, a modified SPH approach based on volume approximation is applied and the entire process of shock wave propagation and structure destruction is successfully simulated. Results show that the modified method remains effective at interfaces with high density ratio, with no distortion of physical quantities. Therefore, the method has advantages of solving problems involving high speed, strong compression and high density ratio. In addition, shock wave propagation characteristics and a steel failure mode are found with simulation, which can be valuable reference for structural design of naval architecture and engineering of underwater explosion. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.