Solid propellants and energetic materials are heterogeneous materials composed of a viscoelastic polymer with a high-volume fraction of included oxidizers or energetic crystals. These materials exhibit complex, nonlinear mechanical properties and undergo a variety of failure modes based on accumulated damage at the mesoscale and macroscale, extreme deformation due to mechanical loading or interactions with the surrounding fluid (e.g. shock waves, turbulence, flames), and potential fragmentation or detonation based on the environment and interactions with surrounding materials. In general, the occurrence and location of these failures is unknown a priori and traditional methods such as finite element methods with cohesive elements are limited in applicability.  

This research will focus on the development of a peridynamic model for heterogeneous reactive materials (e.g. those undergoing heat and mass transfer due to chemical reactions as well as associated phase change) capable of capturing the failure modes of interest at both the mesoscale and macroscale. Homogenization methods to bridge the mesoscale to macroscale are also required to enable the simulation of full-scale propellants and energetic materials.

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited. AFRL-2023-3461

key words

peridynamics; energetic materials; high-performance computing; thermochemical modeling; thermomechanical modeling; structural dynamics

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants