Computer simulation of high-speed impact response of composites

The authors share some of their experiences with the use of a supercomputer to facilitate the analysis and design of high-velocity impact processes in composite systems. They also discuss the benefits of color animation of the results on a MacIntosh computer. The calculations were carried out on a CRAY-2 using an impact model developed for high-velocity impact/penetration of fiber-reinforced layered composites. The model is built on a continuum approach and includes a basic orthotropic constitutive material behavior. A computer program was developed to convert the results of the analysis for hundreds of time steps into 8-bit raster images and these are animated using graphic tools developed at NCSA. The same set of images were also directly recorded on a video tape. A fifteen-times improvement in speed has been recorded on the CRAY-2 over a VAX 8600 computer previously used for the same calculations