Water impact tests and simulations of a steel structure

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve knowledge of the water impact phenomenon from both the experimental and numerical points of view.

Design/methodology/approach

A drop test campaign on water was carried out on semi‐cylindrical steel structures. Therefore, an experimental database for validation purpose was generated. Subsequently, a finite element model was developed in LS‐DYNA in order to reproduce the tests. The behaviour of water was modeled by using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) methods. Numerical simulations were compared to experimental data and the influence of some numerical parameters on the simulations was investigated.

Findings

The FE model was found to be able to reproduce the tests, at least in terms of acceleration peak and distribution of plastic deformation. Acceptable prediction was also found for the pressure peak in soft areas.

Research limitations/implications

In case of low velocity impact, the water model was found to be too rigid and the acceleration peaks were over‐predicted by the simulations. Further investigations are needed to adjust the water model in order to obtain better results also in the case of low velocity impact.

Originality/value

The experimental database could be very useful to the crashworthiness community to validate their numerical models. Moreover, the present paper provides guidelines to modelling the water impact correctly.

Citation

Borrelli, R., Mercurio, U. and Alguadich, S. (2012), "Water impact tests and simulations of a steel structure", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/17579861211209966