Numerical simulation of tensile axial impact of stainless steel tubes and zircaloy rod

Numerical simulation was carried out using ANSYS/LS-DYNA on empty and boron carbide filled stainless steel tubes and zircaloy rod for studying their elastic wave propagation during tensile impact. While empty stainless steel tubes and zircaloy rod showed perfect one dimensional wave propagation, presence of boron carbide powder increased the stress underwent by the tube as the tensile stress wave approached the powder. Furthermore, the wave propagation time of boron carbide filled tube increased in comparison with the empty tube. Experimental results compared well for the plateau region of the strain-time history of the boron carbide powder filled tube. For the empty steel tube and zircaloy rod there was good comparison of strain amplitude.