Characteristics and enhancement of structural damage induced by deep-water explosion

Underwater vehicles play an important role in naval warfare. This study examines the response of simplified underwater vehicles to explosive impact in the deep-sea environment. Simulation results of deep-water explosion based on the structured arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (S-ALE) method indicate that this approach not only offers high computational accuracy but also significantly enhances computational efficiency. The study further explores the impact of water depth on structural damage characteristics. It is found that while water depth has a limited effect on shock waves at the structure's surface, it greatly influences bubble loads. At a depth of 1000 m, the structure is prone to catastrophic collapse, with a damage pattern that differs significantly from those observed in shallow water. Additionally, the study systematically investigates the damage enhancement mechanisms of dual explosives with different arrangements. The results show that an optimized arrangement can effectively amplify the coupling of shock waves and bubbles, leading to a significant increase in both local and overall damage to the structure. This research provides valuable insights into the structural design and damage assessment of underwater vehicles.