Material Point Method Investigations of Trauma to Fluids and Elastic Solids Due to Finite Barriers

A Material Point Method (MPM) algorithm is developed and utilized to investigate how the dynamics of (Langrangian) Navier-Stokes fluids as well as that of elastic solids is affected by trauma due to finite barriers. For the fluid simulations, material point particles are placed in a two dimensional pipe with various initial and boundary conditions and stationary perturbations to fluid flow. Results show that eddy currents are present not only in the wake of the perturbing object but are also responsible for disruption of laminar flow upstream from the barrier. An unfortunately relevant application for sudden finite trauma to an elastic solid involves simulations of an aircraft striking a large building under varying system conditions. The work presented here is introductory in nature; the potential ramifications and importance of continued study is discussed and emphasized.