The influence of rubber layer on the response of fluid-filled container due to high-velocity impact

When hit by a high-velocity projectile, a fluid-filled container might suffer from Hydrodynamic Ram. The entire tank structure can possibly rupture due to the loads from primary shock wave and a cavity developed in the liquid. In this paper, a countermeasure, of which the rubber layer is inserted on the walls of the tank, is proposed to alleviate the dynamic response of fluid-filled container under the impact of high-velocity projectile. The applicability of the numerical method in simulating the process of high speed projectile penetrates the fluid-filled container is validated by comparing the numerical results with the experimental data in the literature. Then, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the process of projectile penetrates the fluid-filled container with rubber layer insertion between the walls of container and fluid, with the velocities of 450 m/s, 600 m/s, 750 m/s, 900 m/s and 1050 m/s, respectively. The influence of rubber layer on the dynamic responses of tank walls, the change of pressure of shock wave in water and the energy absorption of structural walls and rubber layers were analyzed. The results indicate that the rubber layer has a significant effect on shock wave acting on container walls. The dynamic response of liquid tank under the loading of the shock wave and local pressure, which is caused by the high speed fragments traveling in the fluid, decreases remarkably.