Coupling of smoothed particle hydrodynamics and finite element method for impact dynamics simulation

This paper presents an alternative method for coupling smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and finite element method (FEM) in a Lagrangian framework. The attachment and contact between SPH particles and finite elements are calculated. FE nodes are added to the SPH neighbor list for the attachment, and the continuity of the interface is guaranteed. The contact force on SPH particles and FE nodes is calculated with the same approach used in SPH particle to particle contact algorithm, and the identification of the contact surface and the surface normal is not required. Background particles are assigned in the position of FE nodes to facilitate particle approximation. The perforation of a cylindrical Arne tool steel projectile impacting a plate Weldox 460 E steel target is simulated in 3D to demonstrate the performance of the SPH–FEM coupling algorithm. The coupled computational model of viscoplasticity and ductile damage and Gruneisen EOS are used for the target plate. A particle-kill algorithm is used to invalidate the damage particles. Good agreement between the numerical simulations and the experimental results is obtained, and the ballistic limit velocity obtained from the SPH–FEM coupling algorithm gives a deviation of 2% from the experimental data.