Virtual Event
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Characterizing Dynamic Response of Structures and Materials under Extreme Loading Environments
July 9 @ 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Virtual Event
Protective structures and vessels used in marine and defense applications are increasingly required to withstand extreme dynamic loading caused by explosions in air and underwater. Designing lightweight yet resilient structures demands a fundamental understanding of shock-wave interactions with materials, structural geometry, and the surrounding medium. This seminar presents a series of experimental investigations that progressively examine these aspects using advanced diagnostics.
The seminar begins with a comparative study of circular composite plates subjected to planar shock loading in air and underwater. The experiments reveal how the loading medium governs structural deformation, vibration characteristics, and cavitation-induced secondary loading, providing insights into shock–structure interaction.
Next, the influence of structural geometry is examined through blast experiments on curved polymeric sandwich composite panels. The effects of curvature and boundary conditions on structural response are investigated, demonstrating that geometric tailoring can significantly enhance blast resistance and modify damage mechanisms.
The seminar concludes by exploring the complex interaction between near-field underwater explosions and sandwich composite structures. Experimental observations capture the coupled effects of shock waves, gas-bubble oscillations, surface cavitation, and structural deformation. The results highlight the influence of explosive stand-off distance and core density on impulse transfer, cavitation dynamics, and failure mechanisms, providing valuable insights into fluid–structure interaction under extreme underwater loading.
Together, these experimental studies advance the understanding of the dynamic response of composite structures under extreme loading and provide guidance for the design of resilient lightweight structures for naval, offshore, and protective engineering applications.
Speaker: Dr. Akshay Pandey
Biography:
Dr. Akash Pandey is currently working as a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge. He previously worked at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before earning his Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island. His research focuses on the dynamic response of structures and materials subjected to extreme loading conditions, including blast and impact
