Comparison of software codes and discretization schemes for mesoscale simulation of dynamic mechanical loading of PBX

The ability to accurately predict temperature during simulations of dynamic mechanical loading of explosives is essential as the chemistry driving the initiation process is highly dependent on local temperature. The current major chemical reaction models are all functions of temperature. Yet, temperature is the least understood and most volatile variable in many simulations. Accurate temperature measurements are extremely difficult in the detonation regime, making modeling predictions difficult or impossible to validate. In order to increase the level of confidence in simulations, an alternative approach is to compare results from a number of different software codes simulating the same baseline geometry and boundary conditions. Four codes are used in this study: EPIC, SCIMITAR3D, SOPHIA and ANSYS AUTODYN. While Lagrangian approaches are used in EPIC, SOPHIA and ANSYS AUTODYN, SCIMITAR3D is based on an Eulerian discretization, which is enhanced with a level set formulation.