A review of numerical approaches and future trends in the investigation of underwater explosions and their effect on ship hulls

The investigation of ship hull responses to underwater explosions (UNDEX) and the subsequent vibrations they induce is of paramount importance in naval engineering. Military vessels navigate potentially unsafe waters where the threat of UNDEX looms large, so both the hull and onboard instrumentations must be designed to withstand such events. Experimental tests to replicate UNDEX scenarios pose significant challenges due to their complexity, dangers and costs. Thus, researchers have been exploring analytical and numerical models to evaluate the effect of UNDEX on ships. These models are also helpful in designing and assessing the effectiveness of different strategies to limit the damage to hulls, machinery and instrumentation. This review aims to analyse the numerical methodologies proposed by researchers for studying UNDEX phenomena. In addition to the existing knowledge, this review offers critical insights into the current state of research by identifying gaps and unexplored topics in the literature. The guidelines presented here aim to support future studies that can produce significant novel scientific findings, thereby improving the safety and performance of naval vessels subjected to UNDEX.