Conversion of finite elements into meshless particles for penetration computations involving ceramic targets

This paper presents a new computational algorithm to automatically convert distorted finite elements into meshless particles during dynamic deformation. It also presents computed results for projectiles impacting ceramic targets. The new computational algorithm, together with an appropriate ceramic model, provides computed results that are in good agreement with test data. Included are problems involving dwell and penetration. This computational approach is especially well-suited for brittle materials such as ceramics, because the conversion from elements into particles generally occurs after the material has failed. The result is that the particles represent only failed material, which does not produce any tensile stresses. For some particle algorithms it is possible to introduce tensile instabilities, but this is not a concern if the particles represent only failed material