Numerical simulations of progressive crushing of pultruded composite tubes under axial blast load

A numerical investigation was carried out to evaluate the response of pultruded composite tubes, made of polyvinylester matrix reinforced uni-directionally with glass fibers, to axial blast loading. A full scaled model of the specimen was developed to simulate the experiments using LS_DYNA3D. The finite element solutions were validated using experimental data that was published by [1]. Good correlation, based on transmitted impulse by the explosive and crushed distance of the composite tube, was obtained between the finite element simulations and experiments.

Publication year:2009

Keywords:blast load, pultruded tube, progressive crushing, finite elements