Cumulative Structural Damage from Multiple Weapons

The overall goal for this project is to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of a methodology to generate physics-based fast running analysis models to predict the cumulative damage imparted to a structural system by multiple weapon strikes. In the second phase of the project, our goals are to develop cumulative damage fast running models for one or more kinds of structural systems. BENEFIT: As a science and engineering consulting company actively involved in a multitude of government and private industries including building construction, defense, anti-terrorism, petrochemical plant safety, and nuclear plant and infrastructure safety, K & C is in an excellent position to market, commercialize, and transition the technologies developed under this project. These clients, especially related to their overseas operations, have particular concerns related to the risks engendered by small cased munitions. Similarly having a rapid easily used means to evaluate the effects of cumulative damage on structural systems and components can greatly aid in the development of more resilient structures, a major goal of DHS. The U.S. Department of Homeland security has recently initiated the High Performance-Integrated Design (HP-ID) and Advanced Materials Council (AMC) programs, which seeks to develop new robust, resilient, and energy-efficient materials for use in building infrastructure. One of their research programs, involving ERDC, Georgia Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mississippi State University, and Karagozian & Case is focused on understanding and modeling the mechanical behaviors of novel materials, which can be aided by the cumulative damage tools being developed under this project. In other words, the goal of the work and DHS to achieve more resilience in structures is greatly aid by having the ability to predict cumulative damage effects. Funding to the HP-ID/AMC programs is on the order of several millions of dollars per fiscal year. The U.S. defense community is another clear market for this technology, which also has interest in the resilience of structures and having the ability to evaluate the effects of cumulative damage. In this regard, the stochastic approach to be taken to modeling cumulative damage will be especially of interest since the probability of a particular outcome in a cumulative damage targeting problem should reflect the uncertainties involved if it is to be useful.