Plate impact shock experiments and numerical modeling of lightweight adobe masonry material

Abstract

In this contribution, we summarize and extend the experimental and numerical investigation of the shock response of lightweight adobe masonry, previously published in [C. Sauer et al., J. Dyn. Behav. Mater. (submitted)]. It is demonstrated that inverse planar plate impact (PPI) experiments are feasible for lightweight adobe. From the obtained free surface velocity time curves, a linear shock velocity vs. particle velocity relation is derived within the measured range of particle velocities. Numerical simulations of these curves show that the employed homogenous numerical model is capable of properly treating the shock response of this porous, inhomogeneous, and low-strength material. This numerical model is then applied to the example of the ballistic impact of steel spheres on targets consisting of one lightweight adobe brick. The experimentally obtained penetration craters are properly reproduced by the simulated target damage. Moreover, we find good agreement of the measured and simulated residual velocities within the presented range of impact velocities.