Finite element simulation on effective elastic modulus of PBX explosives

With the representative volume element, the random circular and hexagon models of explosive particles were set up in finite element software-ANSYS. Numerical simulation was implemented to study the effective elastic modulus of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs). The prediction of effective elastic modulus agreed well with the experimental results. The effects of properties, volume fraction, shape and gradation of explosive particles as well as the properties of binder on the effective elastic modulus of PBXs were studied. The results show that the particle's size and shape have a minor influence on the effective elastic modulus of PBXs; however, the gradation of explosive particles play a major role in elastic modulus of PBXs. Results also show that the effective elastic modulus of PBXs increase with the increase of volume fraction and elastic modulus of explosive particles. At the higher volume fraction of explosive particles, the property of particles plays an important role in the effective elastic modulus of PBX. The volume fraction of binder is small; however, the elastic modulus of binder also has an obvious effect on the effective elastic modulus of PBX.