July 24, 2003
 

As part of a company-funded study EAI personnel have applied the HEXDAM software to simulating the blast effects of a terrorist explosion near naval vessels moored in a harbor.  In the harbor scenario 14 naval transports are moored alongside 3 piers with 5 tugs in the vicinity.  In the bow of one of the tugs an explosive charge is placed.  The detonation of the explosive charge produces blast overpressures, which impinge on the hull of the nearest ship producing significant structural damage.

A total of 21 static graphical displays are provided along with 1 animated display.  Figures 1 through 3 display the harbor scenario without damage, starting with an overall view of the entire harbor, followed by a more localized view, and ending with a close-up shot of one ship with a tug containing the explosive charge.  Figures 4 through 11 provide plots of two-dimensional overpressure contours produced by the explosion.  Horizontal two-dimensional overpressure contours are provided at five different elevations above sea level in Figures 4 through 9.  The overpressures ranged from 20 to 500 psi.  Plots of vertical (transverse) two-dimensional overpressure contours are also included in Figures 10 and 11. Figures 12 through 17 provide three-dimensional overpressure contour plots for overpressures corresponding to 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, and 5 psi.  The resulting damage to the ship is depicted in color-coded damage plots shown in Figures 18 through 21.  In these plots the color red denotes severe damage; orange, moderate damage; yellow, slight damage; and green, no damage.

In addition to the preceding static displays, an animated representation of the blast wave interacting with the ship is also available.  Because of the size of the files involved, the time for loading this display may take a few minutes, depending on your system and your connection.  If you are interested in observing the animated sequence, you should click on Figure 22 and then simply wait for the entire sequence to load.  If this time proves to be excessive you may choose to skip the animated sequence.