Deformation and rupture of blast loaded square plates—predictions and experiments

Experimental and numerical results for clamped square mild steel plates subjected to uniformly distributed blast pressure loading are presented. The strain rate-sensitive plates exhibit mode I (large ductile deformation), mode II (tensile-tearing), and a trend towards mode III (transverse shear) failure as the load intensity increases. The numerical analysis is carried out using a new finite element formulation which incorporates nonlinear geometry and material effects as well as strain rate sensitivity. Initiation of mode II failure is predicted by a maximum strain criterion. Mode I is predicted well for both maximum deflection and deformation shape. The mode II failure prediction correlates reasonably well with the experimental results and provides a clear lower bound for full rupture of the plate.