Numerical Studies of Dynamic Compaction of Inert and Energetic Granular Materials

In this paper a numerical study of dynamic compaction of granular materials is presented. A multiphase mixture model treating two-phase nonequilibrium flow is applied to describe dynamic compaction experiments. Compaction is modeled using a description of grain distortion driven by pressure differences. Various energetic and inert granular materials including HMX, Fluid A (Nitrocellulose), Melamine, and Teflon are studied for various piston-impact conditions and compared to existing data. Numerical analysis of a ramp-wave piston-impact experiment is also examined. The multiphase mixture model predicts reasonably well the observed steady compaction wave characteristics. Dynamic compaction experiments with detailed resolution are needed to better address the transient behavior of compaction waves in granular materials.