Air Blast & Ballistic Impact Damage Evaluation of Marine Composite Structures (MSC P1T11-303)

The objective of the Phase I work is to develop simple analytical material/structural element models that characterize the deformation and damage of Naval vessel composite structures subjected to conventional weapon effects. This includes external andinternal blast and ballistic loading. This tool will have direct applicability in the design of marine composite structures with enhanced survivability under blast/ballistic threats. Previous research work performed at Materials Sciences Corporation(MSC) has successfully demonstrated the integration of advanced composite progressive failure models into LS-DYNA for accurate prediction of deformation and failure of various composite structures subjected to ballistic and blast impacts. The approachproposed herein will leverage this simulation data as a foundation to guide the development of robust material/structural element models for assessing the blast/ballistic performance of marine composite structural components. Simple ballistic and blaststructural element models will be developed to efficiently capture composite structural failure modes and dynamic damage propagation for composite structures subjected to fragment impact and blast loading. The developed material models will be criticallyevaluated and calibrated by correlating with simulation results as well test data provided by the Navy. This program will develop a design tool that has direct insertion potential for all Defense contractors (Navy, Army, and aerospace) for survivabilitydesign of various composite structures. Application will include both military and civil markets such as aircraft, armored vehicles, surface marine craft and submarines and blast resistant structures.