In addition to its various military applications, shaped charges have been used in oil industry as an oil well perforator (OWP) to connect oil and gas to their reservoirs. The collapse of the liner material under the explosive load produces a hypervelocity jet capable of achieving a deep penetration tunnel into the rock formation. The achieved penetration depends on the OWP design, which includes the geometry and the material of the explosive and the liner as well as the initiation mode and the casing of the shaped charge. The main purpose of this research is to assess the performance of OWP with different design aspects in terms of its penetration depth into concrete material.This research employed the Autodyn finite difference code to model the behaviour of OWPs in the stages of liner collapse, jet formation and jet penetration. The design parameters of OWPs were studied quantitatively to identify the effect of each individual parameter on the jet characteristics and the jet penetration depth into concrete material according to the API-RP43 standard test configuration. In order to validate the Autodyn jetting analysis, this research compared the jetting simulation results of copper OWP liners with those obtained from flash x-ray measurements while the numerical jet penetration into the laminated concrete target was validated experimentally by the static firing of OWPs. Above-mentioned experiments were designed and performed in this project.The validated hydrocode was implemented in this research to study the effects of the concrete target strength, the liner material and the liner shape on the jet penetration depth into concrete targets.For the target strength, the traditional virtual origin (VO) penetration model was modified to include a strength reduction term based on Johnson’s damage number and the effect of the underground confinement pressure using Drucker-Prager model. The VO analytical model is also implemented in the liner material study to account for the jet density reduction phenomena and its induced reduction of jet penetration capability. The jets obtained from machined copper and zirconium liners and from copper-tungsten powder liner all exhibited the density reduction phenomena. The modified VO model considers the non-uniform distribution of jet density based on the jet profile analysis using Autodyn and the experimental soft recovery for some tested liners. The results lead to a modified VO penetration model including the non-uniform jet density effect.For zirconium liner material, numerical and analytical studies were conducted for different flow velocities and different collapse angles in order to determine the boundaries between the jetting and non-jetting phases and whether a coherent or a non-coherent jet will form. This study indicated that the suggested four different liner shapes (i.e. the conical, the biconical, the hemispherical and the bell) will produce coherent jet when the zirconium is used as OWP liner.The validated Autodyn hydrocode is also used in this thesis to calculate the velocity difference between two neighbouring zirconium jet fragments. The velocity difference is related directly to the breakup time of an OWP jet, and thus, it is calculated for a range of zirconium liners with different liner wall thicknesses. The calculated values of velocity difference gave a clear insight for the breakup time formulae for zirconium jet in terms of the liner thickness and the charge diameter.

Blasting is a complex phenomenon and many parameters affect the outcome of a blast. The process of rock fragmentation by blasting is not well understood yet. Therefore, as a first step, blast-induced dynamic fractures must be studied under highly controlled conditions. The whole cycle of conducting a series of laboratory-scale blast, analyzing the results, and using them to test the validity of an advanced numerical code is reported in this thesis. Initially, the respective contributions by both shock energy and gas energy fractions in an explosive in the blasting process are explained. Then, microstructural, physical and mechanical properties of Laurentian and Barre granites as the selected rock types are investigated. Explosively driven fractures in a blast are controlled by rock and explosive properties, coupling media and coupling ratio. Sample geometries, types of explosives and coupling media used in the experiments are explored in the next step. In order to isolate the effect iii of shock energy from the gas energy in explosively driven fractures, copper liners were installed in the blast holes to prevent gas penetration into the shock induced cracks. The aim of the experiments was to study exclusively the nature of shock-driven fractures, and to contain the dynamic fractures within the samples and avoid sample fragmentation. At the same time and in order to investigate the stress field as a function of distance from the borehole, pressure gauges were installed in the samples. The measured pressures were used in a numerical-experimental procedure to estimate the attenuation properties of the rocks. Blasted samples were cut and impregnated with a mix of epoxy and fluorescent dye. Next, dynamic fracture patterns were highlighted using a strong ultraviolet source. After taking photographs, fracture patterns were manually mapped and crack densities were calculated at different depths and distances from the boreholes. The parameters that affect the development of dynamic fracture patterns are also discussed and relation between crack densities and pressures applied by explosives are investigated. Finally, the dynamic fracture patterns and measured pressures will be used for calibrating the selected equation of state, strength and failure models implemented in AUTODYN. Governing equations, the procedure for obtaining the model constants, applicability of the selected model for predicting the blast experiments and its limitations are discussed in detail.

Blasting is a complex phenomenon and many parameters affect the outcome of a blast. The process of rock fragmentation by blasting is not well understood yet. Therefore, as a first step, blast-induced dynamic fractures must be studied under highly controlled conditions. The whole cycle of conducting a series of laboratory-scale blast, analyzing the results, and using them to test the validity of an advanced numerical code is reported in this thesis. Initially, the respective contributions by both shock energy and gas energy fractions in an explosive in the blasting process are explained. Then, microstructural, physical and mechanical properties of Laurentian and Barre granites as the selected rock types are investigated. Explosively driven fractures in a blast are controlled by rock and explosive properties, coupling media and coupling ratio. Sample geometries, types of explosives and coupling media used in the experiments are explored in the next step. In order to isolate the effect iii of shock energy from the gas energy in explosively driven fractures, copper liners were installed in the blast holes to prevent gas penetration into the shock induced cracks. The aim of the experiments was to study exclusively the nature of shock-driven fractures, and to contain the dynamic fractures within the samples and avoid sample fragmentation. At the same time and in order to investigate the stress field as a function of distance from the borehole, pressure gauges were installed in the samples. The measured pressures were used in a numerical-experimental procedure to estimate the attenuation properties of the rocks. Blasted samples were cut and impregnated with a mix of epoxy and fluorescent dye. Next, dynamic fracture patterns were highlighted using a strong ultraviolet source. After taking photographs, fracture patterns were manually mapped and crack densities were calculated at different depths and distances from the boreholes. The parameters that affect the development of dynamic fracture patterns are also discussed and relation between crack densities and pressures applied by explosives are investigated. Finally, the dynamic fracture patterns and measured pressures will be used for calibrating the selected equation of state, strength and failure models implemented in AUTODYN. Governing equations, the procedure for obtaining the model constants, applicability of the selected model for predicting the blast experiments and its limitations are discussed in detail.

Shaped charges are explosive devices with a high penetration capability and are used for both civilian and military purposes. In civilian applications shaped charge devices are used in demolition works, oil drilling and mining. In the military applications, shaped charges are used against different kinds of armors, primarily as anti-tank devices. This thesis work involves the modeling and simulation of shaped charge devices, with the focus being on anti-tank warhead design. Both numerical simulation and analytical calculation methods are used to predict shaped charge performance / in the aspects of jet formation, breakup and penetration. The results are compared within themselves and with the data available in the literature. AUTODYN software is used for the numerical simulations. Different solver and modeling alternatives of AUTODYN are evaluated for jet formation and penetration problems. AUTODYN&rsquo / s Euler solver is used to understand how the jet formation is affected by the mesh size and shape and the presence of air as the surrounding medium. Jetting option in the AUTODYN-Euler simulations are used to simulate jet formation as an alternative to simulations performed using AUTODYN&rsquo / s Euler solver. In the jetting option liner elements are modeled as Lagrangian shell elements, rather than Eulerian elements. Analytical codes are written to study the jet formation, breakup and penetration processes. Many alternative formulas that can be used in the analytical calculations are listed and discussed. Parameters of these formulas are varied to investigate their effects on the results. Necessary constants for the analytical formulas are obtained using the results of AUTODYN simulations.

Ballistic testing is a vital part of the armor design. However, it is impossible to test every condition and it is necessary to limit the number of tests to cut huge costs. With the intro- duction of hydrocodes and high performance computers / there is an increasing interest on simulation studies to cutoff these aforementioned costs. This study deals with the numerical modeling of ballistic impact phenomena, regarding the ballistic penetration of hardened steel plates by 7.62 mm AP (Armor Piercing) projectile. Penetration processes of AP projectiles are reviewed. Then, a survey on analytical models is given. After the introduction of fun- damentals of numerical analysis, an intensive numerical study is conducted in 2D and 3D. Johnson Cook strength models for the four different heat treatments of AISI 4340 steel were constructed based on the dynamic material data taken from the literature. It was found that 2D numerical simulations gave plausible results in terms of residual projectile velocities, con- sidering the literature review. Then, 3D numerical simulations were performed based on the material properties that were selected in 2D studies. Good agreement was obtained between the numerical and test results in terms of residual projectile velocities and ballistic limit thick- nesses. It was seen that the ballistic protection efficiency of the armor plates increases with the increasing hardness, in the examined range. This study is a part of T&uml / ubitak project 106M211 of MAG.

The objective of this study is to investigate the penetration and perforation resistance of alumina ceramics against kinetic energy projectiles. There are several different mechanisms by which a target can fail when it is subjected to impact of a projectile and these may occur singly or in combinations of two or more. The presence of large number of penetration and failure mechanisms makes the investigation of the perforation very difficult. Because of this difficulty, the analytical investigations of penetration and perforation processes usually assume one type of failure mechanism. One of these analytical investigations is reviewed and it is seen that this analytical model is capable of predicting after impact parameters reasonably accurately. A parallel investigation of this problem is also been carried out numerically by using Autodyn hydrocodes. Numerical study is capable of simulating the main changes in ceramic/steel composite target during penetration process of kinetic energy projectile. Results of analytical and numerical investigations are parallel to each other. A set of experiments was carried out for checking the results of analytical and numerical calculations with the experimental data.

The objective of this study is to investigate the detrimental effects of a flexible linear shaped charge (FLSC) to variable thickness back and constant thickness front plates due to varying backspace distance. A FLSC is used to cut both metallic and non-metallic material, quickly and efficiently. It is flexible and may be formed to produce cuts of many configurations, thereby making it particularly useful where more conventional cutting techniques are difficult to employ. While performing its function, the FLSC gives some damage to the back due to the high transient pressure and fragmentation effects. In order to decrease this damage, a steel plate is placed behind the FLSC. In this work, a numerical analysis is carried out by using Autodyn Hydrocode for the investigation of the extent of the plastic deformation of the back as well as front plates for varying backspace distance of the steel plate having different thicknesses. The numerical results are then compared with the experimental findings. The flexibility property of the FLSC is not used in this study. Only the straight segment of FLSC is used.

This thesis developed a linear shaped charge (LSC) separation mechanism capable of severing the interstage skin for first stage separation of the Ares I launch vehicle. The derived LSC design solution was found using available data on Explosive Technology’s Jetcord LSC and from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) desired characteristics. Mechanism components are designed after Minuteman III’s separation mechanism for first stage separation and NASA MSFC’s desired characteristics. Mechanism severance is verified through the use of the numerical method capability smoothed particle hydrodynamics that the hydrocode Autodyn offers. Three simulations are conducted to determine feasibility: the first of only the LSC exploding, to numerically validate the explosion process; the second of the LSC penetrating the target, to numerically validate the penetration process and failure mechanisms; and the last of the entire mechanism, to obtain information about the explosion, penetration, failure, and debris generated.

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire de thèse s’inscrivent dans le cadre des études liées aux dégâts sur les structures et les blessures subies par les personnes à la suite d’explosions de charges explosives en milieu confiné et semi-confiné. Afin de mener cette étude, des expériences sont réalisées à petite échelle en laboratoire et sont complétées par des simulations numériques. Les ondes de choc sont obtenues grâce à la détonation d’une charge explosive gazeuse composée de propane-oxygène en proportion stoechiométrique. L’étude consiste donc à réaliser des expériences à petite échelle en laboratoire afin d’apprécier les champs de pression obtenus à la suite de la détonation d’une charge explosive au sein de deux configurations différentes. La première représente un atelier pyrotechnique et la seconde met en jeu un entrepôt de stockage de bouteilles de gaz. Les résultats expérimentaux sont ensuite confrontés à des résultats obtenus par simulations numériques réalisées grâce au logiciel AUTODYN. En complément de ces deux configuration principales, une étude est menée sur l’identification des pics de surpressions réfléchis grâce à une approche expérimentale appelée paroi par paroi. Une étude est également menée sur la détermination d’une équivalence massique entre le TNT et le mélange gazeux utilisé pour les expériences. / The goal of this study is to investigate shock waves propagation, in a geometrically complex confined and semi-confined environment, consecutive to the detonation of a spherical explosive charge. In this objective, small scale experiments are conducted in laboratory and are completed with numerical analysis. Shock waves are generated thanks to spherical detonation of a gas mixture composed of propane-oxygen in stoechiometric proportion. Two main configurations are studied: the first represents a pyrotechnic workshop and the second is a warehouse containing gas cylinder. Experimental and numerical results are then compared. Complementary studies are realised to describe blast wave propagation inside a semi-confined volume thanks to a new experimental approach named wall by wall. Finally, in order to simulate TNT charges detonation by computational means, an important study is conducted to determine a mass equivalent between TNT and gas mixture.

Studies on the behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) and slurry infiltrated fibrous concrete (SIFCON) to impact loading have started in recent years. Using these relatively new materials, higher values of tensile and compressive strength can be obtained with greater fracture toughness and energy absorption capacity, and therefore they carry a considerable importance in the design of protective structures. In this thesis, computational analyses concerning impact loading effect on concrete, steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) and slurry infiltrated fibrous concrete (SIFCON) are conducted by the aid of ANSYS AUTODYN 11.0.0 software. In the simulations, the importance of the concrete compressive and tensile strengths, and the fracture energy, together with the target and projectile erosion parameters, were investigated on the response of concrete target and projectile residual velocity. The obtained results of the simulation trials on concrete, SFRC and SIFCON have been compared with the experimental outcomes of three concrete, two SFRC and two SIFCON specimens in terms of deformed target crater radius, depth volume and striking projectile residual velocities. The simulation analyses have shown that, compressive as well as tensile strengths of the concrete, SFRC and SIFCON specimens are of great importance on the crater volume while erosion parameters have a significant effect on the projectile residual velocity. Simulation outcomes possess a higher accuracy for concrete simulations when comparisons are made with available experimental results. This accuracy deteriorates for SFRC and SIFCON specimens. It was further concluded that related material tests of the specimens must be available in order to obtain higher accuracy.