Analysis: FEA, Dynamic Analysis, Blast, Reinforced Concrete, Fatigue Life Prediction, Cyclic Load, ANSYS
Objective: The principal objective of the dynamic analysis was to predict a design life of a concrete chamber for testing of explosives. The testing chamber will be used for research and testing of new explosive materials. The chamber will be rebuild from an old civil defence bunker with dimensions 20 x 21 x 9.5 m and reinforced concrete walls , ceiling, and floor thickness of 2.9, 2.7, and 1.5 m, respectively.
For a numerical simulation in ANSYS a 3D FE-model considering the geometry of the structure was developed. For discretization solid finite elements were used. Actions of a blast waves were defined on the inner surface of the chamber. Based on the performed dynamic analysis and considering the concrete fatigue strength the maximal energy of detonation as a TNT equivalent was determined, under which progressive damage of chamber for approximately 10 000 detonations will not be caused. The analysis provided the customer with valuable information about the serviceability and fatigue life of the chamber and maximal equivalent of TNT needed for planning of technological equipment.
