Evaluation of Penetration Depth Induced by the Impact of a GBU 39 Projectile on a Protective Concrete Shelter

Subject Areas : Analysis of Structure and Earthquake

Aliasghar Abotalebi ¹ , علیرضا فیوض ² , رضا اسماعیل آبادی ³

1 - Phd candidate, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen Branch
2 - هیات علمی دانشگاه خلیج فارس
3 -

Received: 2025-01-14 Accepted : 2025-05-11 Published : 2025-09-14

Keywords: Impact, Penetration, protective concrete shelters, ACE, LS DYNA ,

Abstract :

The resistance of concrete targets against penetrators is of great importance. This study investigates the penetration depth caused by the impact of a GBU 39 projectile on a protective concrete shelter. Numerical simulations were performed using the LS DYNA software. To estimate the penetration depth, empirical equations from the Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), and the Young–Wiffen relation were employed. The simulation results were compared with these equations. The findings indicate that, in terms of accuracy and similarity to the simulation results, the equations can be ranked as follows: the ACE equation, the BRL equation, and the Wiffen relation. In other words, the ACE equation showed the highest accuracy and the greatest similarity to the simulation outcomes. The simulation of the projectile impacting the protective concrete shelter also revealed that with projectile velocity increased by 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, the kinetic energy rose by 17%, 21%, 40%, and 46%, respectively, while the penetration depth increased by up to 35% at a maximum velocity increase of 25%.

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