Deformation and rupture of thin rectangular plates subjected to underwater shock

The experimental and numerical investigations on thin rectangular plates (size 0.55×0.45×0.002 (thick) m3) subjected to underwater explosion loading are presented. Experiments were conducted using a box model set-up under air-backed conditions in a shock tank employing small explosive charges of PEK I. The test panels exhibited mode I (large deformation), mode II∗ (partial tensile tearing), mode IIa (complete tensile tearing with increasing mid-point deflection) and mode III (shear) failure, similar to that of panels under air blast loading. In addition to the above failure modes, some of the test panels had exhibited rupture at the centre before mode III failure occurred. Finite element analysis was carried out using the CSA/GENSA [DYNA3D] software for various test conditions and the results compared with experimental data.