Simulation of ship collision and grounding damage using Hosford-Coulomb fracture model for shell elements

Abstract

The predictive capabilities of the Hosford-Coulomb ductile fracture model for shell elements were evaluated by simulating the penetration of stiffened panel test models. The plasticity and ductile fracture of the test model material, S235JR grade steel, were modeled using the results of tests reported in the literature, which consisted of dog bone, notched tension, central hole tension, and shear experiments. The loading paths to ductile fracture initiation were extracted from finite element analyses with very fine solid element meshes. The Hosford-Coulomb fracture model parameters were identified using the extracted loading paths and adopting a linear damage accumulation law. Using the concept of the Domain of Shell-to-Solid Equivalence, the calibrated fracture model was extended to shell finite elements. Subsequently, the fracture model was used to simulate the stiffened panel penetration tests. The calibrated fracture model provides an accurate estimation of ductile fracture initiation and ductile crack propagation while being relatively mesh-insensitive for the particular problem considered.