Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Surrogate Anti-Tank Mine Blasts on the M113

摘要

This memorandum summarizes numerical analyses which were performed to investigate the use of a simple empirical impulse loading model as a tool for modelling blast mine loading on a structure. The empirical model was used to generate the initial velocity boundary condition for an explicit dynamic finite element analysis of the floor deformation of a simulated M113 MTVL (upgraded floor protection) subject to the detonation of a buried 7.5-kg C-4 mine surrogate. Results showed an over-prediction of the peak residual floor deflection. Reducing the impulse by 33% gave excellent agreement with experimental results. The need to scale the impulse is attributed to energy absorption in the soil through mechanisms that are not accounted for in the empirical model. Moisture content and soil type, for example, are known to significantly affect the apparent strength of blast mines.