Validation of finite element simulations of blast loaded plates using high-speed digital image correlation

Measuring the dynamic response of structures due to blast loading is rather complex because of the high strain rates, the transient nature of the deformation and the interactions between the explosion and the structure. The blast response of structures has been an area of active research in recent years. Several studies have investigated dynamic deformations due to explosive blast loading on plates using strain gauges, accelerometers, velocity meters or pressure sensors which only provide point-wise information. This paper describes the use of a high-speed stereo-vision system combined with 3D digital image correlation (DIC) to obtain the full-field deformation of thin plates subjected to blast loading. The pressure distribution on the plates is calculated by finite element simulations and is validated by comparing the numerical deformation with the deformation pattern from the DIC. For the finite elements model the Johnson-Cook material model is used to simulate the behaviour of the plate. The tests are performed for different boundary conditions, more specifically: for different materials and thicknesses of the plate.