Application description
Modern structural designs can be used to protect various systems that are vulnerable to large blast loads. Sandwich structures are a particular class of modern structures that could be explored for such applications.
Geometry
Two models are used in this example. One model is the sandwich plate structure described by Dharmasena et al. (2008) and shown in Figure 1. The sandwich structure consists of a square honeycomb core with vertical webs welded to top and bottom plates. The dimensions of the overall sandwich plate structure are 610 × 610 × 61 mm. The sandwich structure lies in the X–Y plane, while the blast source is 100 mm vertically above (along the z-direction) the center of the top plate of the sandwich structure. The top and bottom plates are 5 mm thick, and the square honeycomb core webs are 0.76 mm thick. The spacing between the honeycomb webs is 30.5 mm measured from the midplane.
The second model is a solid plate, which was chosen for comparison with Dharmasena et al.
Materials
The top and bottom plates and honeycomb core of the sandwich structure and the solid plate are all made of a high ductility stainless steel alloy (Al-6XN) comprised of 49% Fe, 24% Ni, 21% Cr, and 6% Mo by weight as described by Nahshon et al. (2007).
Initial conditions
All structures are initially at their undeformed state at 273 K temperature.
Boundary conditions and loading
All the edges of the sandwich structure and the solid plate are fixed. One-quarter of the full plate is modeled, assuming symmetry of the solution.
Interactions
In the sandwich structure the honeycomb web is welded to the inner surfaces of the plates.