Simulation of underwater explosions in close-proximity to a submerged cylinder and a free-surface or rigid boundary

The response of a submerged structure to an underwater explosion (UNDEX) depends on highly nonlinear interactions between the structure, nearby boundaries, the shock wave and the bubble of gaseous explosion products. These complex interactions may significantly influence the loads imparted to a submerged structure by an underwater explosion. This research presents the experimental validation of a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian numerical modelling approach for simulating the interaction between an underwater explosion, a submerged cylinder, and a free surface or rigid bottom. The three-dimensional simulations in account concurrently for shock wave propagation, cavitation, and gas bubble migration and jetting. The validated simulation methodology is employed to demonstrate how the presence of a submerged cylinder influences bubble migration and its period of oscillation in the vicinity of a boundary.