Computer Modeling for a Generalized Approach to Measure Impact Damage

Abstract

This paper describes a generalized and rational computational approach to qualitatively measure the level of damage generated by projectiles impacting a system of bumper plates. A single impact damage index (SIDI) model is proposed based on results from numerical simulations using a hydrocode. The model combines the depth of penetration and the size of the holes. A sensitivity study demonstrated that the SIDI is very useful to make relative comparisons between a wide range of impact configurations, high impact velocities, material densities, and projectile shapes and sizes. Additional simulations with two neighbor impacts were conducted to compute a combined damage index and study its sensitivity to neighboring distances. An artificial neural network was developed to rapidly estimate the SIDI for numerous impact configurations and velocities. The approach can be coupled with other methodologies to assess larger-scale damage involving multiple impacts at high velocities.