Fully variational 6th order elastodynamic formulation for the treatment of blast or fast impulsive forces.

A new variational space-time formulation is used to treat elastodynamic problems with impulsive loads that propagate at fast velocities, as blasts or explosions. Based on the new formulation, a new family of fully variational time integration algorithms for elastodynamic problems is formulated. In the framework of this new family of algorithms, a conditionally stable time integration algorithm of the 6th order and the variational treatment of impulsive forces propagating at high speeds are developed. The time integration algorithm is based on Hermite's polynomials, with independent field of velocities, and discontinuous time derivative of the displacement field. Numerical examples are performed to test the computational efficiency of the new approach to treat fast dynamic impulsive forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]