ABSTRACT
In this paper, the effects of near-field explosion on structural damage extents and residual strength of a hypothetical naval ship are studied by means of 3D nonlinear finite element methods. In the first part of the study, load effects due to near-field external and internal explosions are simulated and the damage characteristics are discussed with respect to standoff distance and location of the explosion. An attempt is made to relate the outcome of damage prediction simulations to the concept of blast damage radius. In the second part, the target ship is analyzed whilst intact and with two damage scenarios. The viability of predicting residual strength of performance of the damaged ship using a 2D beam representation of the damage hull girder with an assumed blast damage radius is also assessed.
