SwRI: Engineering Dynamics specialists study nonlinear response of materials, structures, natural, engineered systems

Engineering dynamics specialists study the nonlinear response of materials (solids and fluids), structures, and natural and engineered systems—in particular, the behavior of materials and structures subjected to large deformations at high strain rates—often to failure.

Click image for an enlarged view. SwRI personnel use an integrated approach—experiments, numerical simulations, and analytical modeling—to understand and provide solutions to client problems.

To understand and solve problems for clients, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) uses an integrated approach including:

• Experiments

• Analytical modeling

• Large-scale numerical simulations

SwRI engineering dynamics research includes:

• Fundamental investigations

• Concept feasibility

• Applied experimental studies

• Applied analyses

• Developmental studies

• Software development and applications

The SwRI staff use their depth of experience, capabilities, and creativity to solve problems utilizing state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and computational software.

• Weapons Effects

  • Warhead modeling

  • Blast effects

  • Full-scale bomb (arena) testing

  • Mine blast analysis & testing

  • Chem-bio agent defeat

  • Structural dynamic analysis

  • Design trade-off analysis

  • Transient loads structural testing

  • Fluid-structure interaction

  • Fragility function development

  • Sectioned aluminum targets after impact by a 7.62-mm APM2 bullet

  • Security engineering

  • Safety analysis

• Terminal Ballistics Effects

  • Penetration mechanics

  • Armor mechanics

  • Armor design & testing

  • Hypervelocity impact analysis & testing

  • Ballistic modeling

  • Concept & package evaluation

  • Product improvement

  • Birdstrike & foreign object testing

• Material Response and Characterization

  • Dynamic loading & material deformation

  • Constitutive modeling

  • Failure initiation & propagation

• Computational Fluid Dynamics

  • Parallel computing

  • Gas dynamics

  • Space weather

  • Turbulence modeling

  • Multiphase flow

  • Free surface flow

  • Subsurface flows

  • Particle / droplet dynamics

  • Dispersion processes

  • Turbomachinery analysis

  • Code development

  • Uncertainty analysis

	Sectioned aluminum targets after impact by a 7.62-mm APM2 bullet

SwRI operates and maintains the Ballistics and Explosives Range on the San Antonio campus. This 10-acre facility permits a wide variety of experimental programs to be conducted, including:

• Explosive loading

• Hazards evaluation and mitigation

• Foreign object damage

• Ballistic impact

• Armor testing

• Hypervelocity impact

SwRI technicians provide expert support for handling explosives, firing gas and powder guns, and collecting high-rate electronic data. A complement of equipment—including an on-site machine shop, digital data acquisition and transient recorders, high-speed imaging equipment, and data processors—supports range activities.

State-of-the-art hydrocodes and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes are used routinely to analyze and solve problems for clients. Three Beowulf cluster systems support SwRI computational activities.

For more information about engineering dynamics capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Charles Anderson, Jr., Ph.D., at canderson@swri.org or (210) 522-2313.