Multi-peak phenomenon of large-scale hull structural damage under near-field underwater explosion

The underwater explosion (UNDEX) may cause more serious damage to the hull structure under certain detonation conditions. In this study, through a near-filed UNDEX test with a full-scale barge in a natural environment, a detailed simulation of the entire UNDEX process applying the S-ALE method is conducted and validated. Several near-field UNDEX simulations of the barge with different detonation distances are then conducted to study the response characteristics and damage results. The double-peak phenomenon of ship bottom deformation and the single-peak phenomenon of residual strength under different detonation distances, which is referred to as the multi-peak phenomenon, are identified based on the results of local deformation and residual strength, and their mechanisms are further analyzed and clarified.