A COMPARISON OF MESHLESS-PARTICLE METHODS FOR HIGH-VELOCITY IMPACT COMPUTATIONS

This article presents a comparison of three meshless-particles algorithms for high-velocity impact computations. Included are the Generalized Particle Algorithm (GPA), the Combined Particle-Element Method (CPEM), and the Nodal EFG (Element-Free Galerkin) method. Results are also presented for the automatic conversion of distorted elements into meshless particles. The conversion approaches allow for more accuracy and efficiency for the lower-strained elements, and the particles provide the capability to represent the highly distorted material. The various approaches are evaluated by comparing results to those of a finite-element cylinder impact run (which can be assumed to be an accurate baseline), and a complex projectile-target interaction example that includes contact, material failure and fragmentation (where an accurate baseline result is not known). There is generally agreement between the results of the different approaches, but there are also some noticeable differences.