Computational modeling of polyurea-coated composites subjected to blast loads

This manuscript presents computational modeling and simulation of woven E-glass fiber-reinforced vinyl-ester (EVE) composites and polyurea-coated EVE composites subjected to blast loading. The response of polyurea is idealized based on a temperature- and pressure-dependent visco-elastic constitutive model. The response of the EVE layers is modeled based on a multiscale computational damage model that includes adiabatic heating and rate-dependence in the constituent (i.e. matrix and fiber) behavior. Experimentally validated numerical simulations of EVE composite and polyurea-coated EVE composite specimens subjected to blast loading indicate that the proposed models are capable of accurately capturing the inelastic and failure characteristics of the specimens. The significant shock mitigation effect of polyurea coating is numerically demonstrated. Predictive simulations suggest better blast mitigation characteristics with increasing polyurea thickness and confining the perimeter of the polyurea layers.