Deformation and failure of blast-loaded stiffened plates

Numerical results for clamped, square stiffened steel plates subjected to blast loading are presented. The finite element formulation, which includes the effects of geometric and material nonlinearities as well as strain rate sensitivity, forms the basis for the numerical analysis. Failure is predicted using an interactive failure criterion comprising bending, tension and transverse shear. A node release algorithm is developed to simulate the progression of rupture. The analysis is continued in the post-failure phase to capture the free flight deformation of the torn plate. The predicted failure modes for a blast-loaded stiffened plate are presented and compared with previously published experimental data. Furthermore, the results of the numerical analysis are used to understand the experimentally observed localized tearing of stiffened plates.