A generalized method for one-way coupling of CTH and Lagrangian finite element codes with complex structures using the interdisciplinary computing environment

In the past, CTH (a finite volume, shock physics code) has been coupled with different Lagrangian finite element codes like ProntoSD and LS-Dyna, to solve blast-structure interaction problems. In many situations, a two-way coupling of these codes is unnecessary. Specifically, when the deformation of the structure has little impact on the developing blast, a one-way coupling is sufficient. Unfortunately, when the structure is complex, and particularly when the model contains shell elements, accurately generating the load curves for the finite element input can be difficult. A generalized method for generating the necessary load curves for the finite element input from CTH has been developed at ARL by using the Interdisciplinary Computing Environment (ICE). While others have successfully coupled CTH with finite element codes in the past, this method accurately represents the finite elements model's geometry on the Eulerian mesh and can be applied to any code with a pressure vs. time element loading capacity. An accurate representation of the finite element model is inserted into the CTH mesh even if the model contains shell elements. Using this method, an example problem of a land mine interacting with a complex vehicle structure is presented.