• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.589-597
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• 2017

This study aims to verify experimentally the specifications of the data acquisition system required for the precise measurement of signals in an underwater explosion (UNDEX) experiment. The three data acquisition systems with different specifications are applied to compare their precision relatively on maximum shock pressures from UNDEX. In addition, a method of assessing the acquired signals is suggested by introducing the concept of measurement uncertainty. The underwater explosion experiments are repeated five times under same conditions, and assessment is conducted on maximum quantities acquired from underwater pressure sensors. It is confirmed that the concept of measurement uncertainty is very useful method in accrediting the measurement results of UNDEX experiments.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.395-406
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• 2021

Near-field underwater explosion (UNDEX) phenomena were investigated by experiments and numerical simulations. The UNDEX experiments were performed in a water tank using a ship-like model. One kilogram of TNT, one of the most widely used military high explosives, was used for the experiments. Numerical simulations were performed under the same conditions as in the experiments using the commercial software LS-DYNA. Underwater pressures, accelerations, velocities, and strains by shock waves were measured at multiple locations. Further, the bubble pulsation period and the whipping deformations of the ship-like model were explored. The experimental results are presented and examined through comparison with the results obtained from widely used empirical equations and numerical simulations.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.988-995
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• 2020

Air gun shock systems are commonly used as alternative explosion energy sources for underwater explosion (UNDEX) shock tests owing to their low cost and environmental impact. The airbag inflator of automotive airbag systems is also very useful to generate extremely rapid underwater gas release in labscale tests. To overcome the restrictions on the very small computational time step owing to the very fine fluid mesh around the nozzle hole in the explicit integration algorithm, and also the absence of a commercial solver and software for gas UNDEX of airbag inflator, an idealized airbag inflator and fluid mesh modeling technique was developed using nozzle holes of relatively large size and several small TNT charges instead of gas inside the airbag inflator. The objective of this study is to validate the results of an UNDEX response analysis of one and two idealized airbag inflators by comparison with the results of shock tests in a small water tank. This comparison was performed using the multi-material Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation and fluid-structure interaction algorithm. The number, size, vertical distance from the nozzle outlet, detonation velocity, and lighting times of small TNT charges were determined. Through mesh size convergence tests, the UNDEX response analysis and idealized airbag inflator modeling were validated.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.251-278
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• 2008

In this study, we investigate the discontinuous-derivative treatment at the gas-liquid interface in underwater explosion (UNDEX) problems by using the Moving Least Squares-Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (MLS-SPH) method, which is known as one of the particle methods suitable for problems where large deformation and inhomogeneity occur in the whole domain. Because the numerical oscillation of pressure arises from derivative discontinuity in the UNDEX analysis using the standard SPH method, the MLS shape function with Discontinuous-derivative Basis Function (DBF) that is able to represent the derivative discontinuity of field function is utilized in the MLS-SPH formulation in order to suppress the nonphysical pressure oscillation. The effectiveness of the MLS-SPH with DBF is demonstrated in comparison with the standard SPH and conventional MLS-SPH though a shock tube problem and benchmark standard problems of UNDEX of a trinitrotoluene (TNT) charge.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.400-406
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• 2021

The primary effect of the far-field underwater explosion (UNDEX) is the whipping of the ship hull girder. This paper aims to verify why inelastic effects should be considered in the whipping response estimations from the UNDEX simulations. A navy ship was modeled using Timoshenko beam elements over the ship length uniformly keeping the constant midship section modulus. The transient UNDEX pressure was produced using two types of the Geers-Hunter doubly-asymptotic models: compressible and incompressible fluids. Because the UNDEX model based on incompressible fluid assumption provided more increased fluid volume acceleration in the bubble phase, the incompressible fluid-based UNDEX model was adopted for the inelastic whipping response analyses. The non-linear hull girder bending moment-curvature curve was used to embed inelastic effects in the UNDEX analyses where the Smith method was applied to derive the non-linear stiffness. We assumed two stand-off distances to see more apparent inelastic effects: 40.5 m and 35.5 m. In the case of the 35.5 m stand-off distance, there was a statistically significant inelastic effect in terms of the average of peak moments and the average exceeding proportional limit moments. For the conservative design of a naval ship under UNDEX, it is recommended to use incompressible fluid. In the viewpoint of cost-effective naval ship design, the inelastic effects should be taken into account.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.322-330
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• 2020

This study deals with underwater explosion (UNDEX) characteristics of various non-explosive underwater shock sources for the development of non-explosive underwater shock testing devices. UNDEX can neutralize ships' structure and the equipment onboard causing serious damage to combat and survivability. The shock proof performance of naval ships has been for a long time studied through simulations, but full-scale Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) using real explosives have been limited due to the high risk and cost. For this reason, many researches have been tried to develop full scale ship shock tests without using actual explosives. In this study, experiments were conducted to find the characteristics of the underwater shock waves from actual explosive and non-explosive shock sources such as the airbag inflators and Vaporizing Foil Actuator (VFA). In order to derive the empirical equation for the maximum pressure value of the underwater shock wave generated by the non-explosive impact source, repeated experiments were conducted according to the number and distance. In addition, a Shock Response Spectrum (SRS) technique, which is a frequency-based function, was used to compare the response of floating bodies generated by underwater shock waves from each explosion source. In order to compare the magnitude of the underwater shock waves generated by each explosion source, Keel Shock Factor (KSF), which is a measure for estimating the amount of shock experienced by a naval ship from an underwater explosionan, was used.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.439-446
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• 2017

This paper deals with an experimental study of the dynamics of an underwater bubbles and shock waves, generated by rapid underwater release of highly compressed gas. Aribag inflators, which are used for automobile's airbag system, are used to generate the extremely-rapid underwater gas release. Experimental studies of the complex underwater bubble dynamics as well as underwater shock wave were carried out in a specifically designed cylindrical water tank. The water tank is equipped with a high-speed camera and pressure sensors. The high-speed camera was used to capture the expansion and collapse of the gas bubble created by inflators, while pressure sensors was used to measure the underwater shock propagation and magnitudes. The experimental results were compared against the results of explosion of pentolite explosive. Several physical phenomena that has been observed and discussed, which are different from the explosive underwater explosion.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2022

Three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA) models have been used to evaluate the shock-resistance responses of various equipments, including armaments mounted on a warship caused by underwater explosion (UNDEX). This paper aims to check the possibility of using one-dimensional (1D) FEA models for the shock-resistance responses. A frigate was chosen for the evaluation of the shock-resistance responses by the UNDEX. The frigate was divided into the thirteen discrete segments along the length of the ship. The 1D Timoshenko beam elements were used to model the frigate. The explosive charge mass and the stand-off distance were determined based on the ship length and the keel shock factor (KSF), respectively. The UNDEX pressure fields were generated using the Geers-Hunter doubly asymptotic model. The pseudo-velocity shock response spectrum (PVSS) for the 1D-FEA model (1D-PVSS) was calculated using the acceleration history at a concerned equipment position where the digital recursive filtering algorithm was used. The 1D-PVSS was compared with the 3D-PVSS that was taken from a reference, and a relatively good agreement was found. In addition, the 1D-PVSS was compared with the design criteria specified by the German Federal Armed forces, which is called the BV043. The 1D-PVSS was proven to be relatively reasonable, reducing the computing cost dramatically.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

For an accurate shock response analysis of a floating structure such as a naval surface ship subjected to an UNDEX(UNDerwater Explosion), the cavitation effects due to reflected wave at free surface and wetted structural surface should be considered. In this study, for the consideration of cavitation effects an effective method using LS-DYNA/USA and its theoretical background were presented. Through the application of the analysis of bulk cavitation phenomena in the free field, it could be confirmed that almost the same results were obtained between LS-DYNA/USA code and the analytical method. for the investigation of cavitation effects from the structural shock response characteristics, three dimensional UNDEX shock response analysis of an idealized ship model was also carried out It could be found that the cavitation Phenomena gave significant effects on the structural shock response characteristics, and especially that the shock loadings calculated at the installed location of shipboard equipment were underestimated in the case of no consideration of the cavitation effects, which might cause the severe mistake in its shock-resistance design.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.522-529
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• 2017

Air gun shock system is used as an alternative energy source as part of the attempt to overcome the restrictions of economical expense and environmental damage, etc., due to the use of explosives for the UNDerwater EXplosion (UNDEX) shock test. The objectivity of this study is to develop the simulation technique of air gun shock test for the design of model-scale one for the near field non-explosive UNDEX test through its verification with full-scale SERCEL shock test result. Underwater blasting response analysis of full-scale air gun shock test was carried out using highly advanced M&S (Modeling & Simulation) system of FSI (Fluid-Structure Interaction) analysis technique of LS-DYNA code, and was verified by comparing its shock characteristics and behaviors with the results of air gun shock test.