Design
Fluid Dynamics
Shock Physics
Structural Mechanics
Applied Tool Development
Experimental Test Support
Theoretical Research

Computational Fluid Dynamics


What is Structural Mechanics?
Structural mechanics is the study of a broad range of phenomena involving the response of solid bodies to applied loads, body forces, or thermal loads. Theoretically these solid bodies could be composed of a vast variety of materials, such as steel, wood, carbon composite, or even ice. The response of a simple structure can be calculated using closed form mathematical formulations. However, most real world structures are not simple.

Advanced numerical tools must be used when structural analysis involves the full range of geometric, material, and loading complexity. These tools are typically based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). To solve a problem using FEM, the solid body geometry is created in CAD and then subdivided into a number of elements having fairly regular geometry. The resulting array of elements, or mesh, represents sets of relatively simple equations that can be solved simultaneously for deformation and motion of a body given particular loads and boundary conditions. Using this numerical solution along with advanced material models allows the strain and stress states to be determined. This allows us to provide accurate answers to questions like: “Will it bend?”, “Will it break?”, “How much kinetic energy can it absorb?”.


Corvid’s Advantage
At Corvid Technologies we use advanced numerical tools to solve large-scale structural dynamics problems. Our indigenous computing capability gives us the ability to run very large problems (>5 million degrees of freedom). We utilize sophisticated material models and advanced techniques like mesh relaxation and material advection to provide predictive analysis for highly complex problems. Our researchers are experienced in conducting target/weapon interaction tests in parallel with analysis using advanced numerical tools. This two-pronged approach allows true insight into structural dynamics phenomena, and the ability to intelligently interpret the results of numerical analysis.

The combination of our structural dynamics, shock physics and CFD capabilities makes us uniquely qualified to tackle difficult problems such as blast-structure interaction and structural response due to hypervelocity impacts. Such problems are truly “multi-physics problems” and involve highly disparate time scales. Our structural mechanics tool set includes:

  • Explicit structural dynamics FEM codes such as DYNA3D and LS-DYNA
  • Mixed method Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) codes
  • Mesh generation tools such as ANSYS ICEM CFD
  • Post-processing using various tools such as FIELDVIEW
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using in-house developed Velodyne

Taylor impact tests (Taylor, 1948) are an excellent example of a body deformed solely by dynamic body forces. In this test, a flat-ended cylinder is fired at high velocity against a rigid surface. Taylor testing is typically used in conjunction with numerical tools in developing and verifying plasticity models. It is also used to verify structural dynamic finite element codes. These codes employ strain-rate dependent material constitutive relations, strength models, and material equations-of-state, allowing the thermomechanical response of a material to be determined. Simulation of a copper Taylor test specimen is shown here. Results include not only stress distribution, but also state variable distributions such as density and temperature.



Example of the Taylor Impact Test



Impact Simulation of Spherical Aluminum Tank
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Client Examples
Applied:
· Shock pressure gage design and qualification
· Hypervelocity Impact Test Design

 Phenomenology:
· Shell collapse using ALE methods

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