Novel Experiments for Understanding Underwater Implosion and Its Mitigation
Abstract
A comprehensive series of experiments coupled with numerical simulations will be conducted to understand and later predict the mechanisms responsible for underwater implosion and the methodology responsible its mitigation. The experimental investigations will be performed at the University of Rhode Island. Within the navy, the phenomenon of implosion has become a topic of interest for mitigating catastrophic failures in various applications. One of the main concerns is ship safety and the effect a near field implosion can have on the integrity of the hull. Recent funding by the Naval Underwater Warfare Center has led to the design and construction of new experimental facilities for implosion research at the University of Rhode Island. Due to the advancements in the facilities, great leaps have been made in studying the environmental effects in both a confined and free field environment. The latest research accomplished at the university has included hydrostatic, shock initiated and brittle implosions within a closed tube, hydrostatic and shock initiated implosions within a free field, asymmetric axial placement of an implodable within a closed tube, and the effect of implosions in an open tube within a free field region. Additionally, 3D-Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was calibrated and validated for specimens imploding in submerged water, inside a translucent open ended tube in submerged water as well as for implosions within a closed tube. Using 3D-DIC has aided in capturing real-time deformations and velocities of the implosion event. The work being proposed will expand on the knowledge attained in past work and build new knowledge on differences between explosive initiated implosions within free-field and within a closed tube environment. In addition, the proposed work will focus on understanding the evolution/propagation/reflection of water hammer pressure waves, which will lead to design of implodable volumes with enhanced hammer mitigation. It will include the modification in geometrical design of the confining volume to mitigate the water hammer in an open tube within a free field (baffles), the effect of relative placement of explosives, and the effect of surface coatings applied to implodables in both free field and open tube environment on implosion. Implodables fabricated from different materials will also be studied with specific Navy applications in mind. In addition to recently validated underwater 3D-DIC techniques, dynamic pressure transducers will be used to capture pressure data during the implosion event.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512046
Entities
People
- Arun Shukla
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Rhode Island