Three-dimensional peridynamic modeling of damage and penetration in composite plates exposed to localized explosive blasts

Localized failures in composites can lead to catastrophic consequences in some vehicles and systems, such as airplanes and submarines. The paper presents a new three-dimensional (3D) peridynamic model to explore the localized explosive effects on composite plates. The study utilizes the peridynamic method to simulate fractures and deformations in composite plates when exposed to localized explosive blasts. Accurate prediction of composites' performance during explosive blast events is crucial in the design process to avoid the deadly effects of their failures. This study highlights the following novelties: (1) We present, for the first time, a novel 3D mesh-free model to simulate the fracture and damage behavior of composite plates when exposed to explosive blasts; (2) The adopted numerical modeling technique enables highly efficient simulations of fractures and failures in composites when compared with other mesh-based numerical models; (3) We introduce a new mathematical framework to reflect the explosive pressure loads through different composite layers; (4) The study provides an accessible and efficient tool for engineers and researchers to enhance the design of composites in several industries instead relying on limited-access commercial software packages. In addition to the previous novelties, the paper presents a new parametric study that investigates the performance of several composite plates, such as titanium-aramid and aluminum-aramid composites, in explosive blast scenarios. Moreover, the roles of explosive mass and plate thickness in the failure mechanisms of composites are examined.