Comparison of the dynamic response of clamped plates under fully confined and unconfined air-blast loading

Abstract Compared to an unconfined explosion, e.g., air blast, explosive threats in confined spaces must be carefully considered in fields such as aerospace, aviation, and shipping due to their dramatic destructive potential. This paper systematically investigates and compares the dynamic mechanical responses of monolithic plates under fully confined/unconfined blast loadings. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) simulations using the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method are validated, demonstrating a remarkable concordance with experimental observations for monolithic plates. Structural permanent deflections and deformation modes are captured by detonating the spherical TNT charge. In addition, numerical predictions further reveal additional insights into the complex interactions of blast shock waves and structure. The structural response to confined blast conditions is contrasted with that under air blast, considering an equivalent stand-off distance between the spherical charge and the specimen. The comparison reveals that the final structural deformation is four times greater in the confined blast scenario compared to the air blast case.