Finite Element Simulation using SPH Particles as Loading on Typical Light Armoured Vehicles

Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) are essential to transport troops and equipment in combat and high risk zones. The emergence of non conventional threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) implies a need to reassess armoured vehicle design to improve crew survivability. To do this DRDC has been developing new experimental facilities and has conducted experimental testing to study armoured vehicle structure subjected to near field blast loadings. Numerical models of the test facility were developed to assist the design of the experimental program and to accelerate the design of improved protection systems. This paper presents results of experimental and numerical analysis, in order to compare the numerical predictions with experimental results. In this study the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) technique was applied to model the loading on the vehicle structure.