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Lagrangian finite element analysis of the penetration of earth penetrating weapons

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6868110

Buried targets, such as hardened missile silos, that are resistant to the effects of air blast from above-ground or surface-burst explosions may be vulnerable to the effects of ground motion produced by nearby underground explosions. An earth penetrating weapon (EPW) is being developed to exploit this phenomena. To design the EPW system, loads on the weapon due to the penetration event must be determined. This paper presents the methodology for performing Lagrangian finite-element analysis of the penetration event in two and three dimensions. In order to describe the methodology, results from analyses done for a particular EPW impacting a particular target medium are presented. The results for impacts with nonzero angles of incidence and nonzero angles of attack show the importance of being able to calculate three dimensional penetration loads. 62 figs.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6868110
Report Number(s):
UCID-20886; CONF-8510433-1; ON: DE87005267
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English