Effects of different parameters on the electrical and shock wave characteristics in underwater electrical explosion of copper wires: Modeling and analysis

The parameters of the wire and the circuit significantly influence the discharge characteristics and shock wave (SW) behavior during the underwater electrical wire explosion (UEWE) process. In this paper, we establish a numerical model that describes the UEWE process, along with a derived finite element model. The impacts of wire and circuit parameters on the physical characteristics, electrical properties, and SW characteristics during the UEWE process are analyzed in detail, with explanations provided for the underlying mechanisms. The results indicate that shorter and thinner wires, as well as faster discharge frequencies, promote quicker energy deposition, resulting in higher discharge channel (DC) pressure peaks. The amplitude of the SW is closely correlated with the DC pressure peak and its attenuation characteristics. To achieve a higher SW amplitude, thin and short wires should be chosen for the near-field water region, while long and thick wires should be selected for the far-field water region to maximize energy deposition. When matching wire diameters, the effect of capacitance on SW amplitude is minimal, with larger capacitance being paired with thicker wires. Inductance significantly influences the SW amplitude; however, within a certain range of inductance variations, reducing the wire diameter can minimize pressure attenuation. Finally, the model can be integrated with neural networks for multi-objective optimization, enabling the determination of the optimal parameter combination for a given operating condition.