Numerical simulation and design of extruded integrally stiffened panels (ISP) for aeronautic applications subjected to blast loading: Sensitivity analyses to different stiffener configurations

Protection of structures against explosions due to terrorism actions or accidents is a growing concern in the current times. The need for engineers to understand the structural mechanics during blast load events motivated the research leading to this work. This paper investigates the structural response of integrally stiffened panels, with different stiffener configurations, subjected to blast loading conditions through a set of finite element analyses (FEA) carried out using LS-Dyna commercial code. The numerical models developed in this work are validated by comparing the results to two small-scale blast loading experiments presented in the literature. The influence of different parameters, such as, numerical (i.e. element type, element size) and geometrical parameters, with respect to the accuracy of the finite element results are investigated. It is concluded which numerical parameters present the more accurate results with reduced computational effort and which stiffener configuration results in a more stable behaviour for the structure.