Publications Details
Experimental and computational investigation of the fundamental mechanisms of cratering
Early attempts at estimation of stress wave damage in blasting by use of finite element analysis met with limited success due to numerical instabilities that prevented calculations from being carried to late times after significant fragmentation had occurred. A new damage model based on microcrack growth in tension allows finite element calculations which remain stable at late times. Estimation of crater profiles for blasting experiments in granite, using laboratory properties for all parameters, demonstrate a high level of success for this damage model. However, estimated crater profiles show systematic differences from excavated crater profiles which motivate further developments of this model. 19 refs., 16 figs.