Shock Compression of Porous Materials and Foams Using Classical Molecular Dynamics

Abstract

In recent years, classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have increasingly been used to study shock compression of porous media. Such studies have shown that molecular scale mechanisms, driven by localization of deformation and stress near shrinking pores, can determine the microscopic and macroscopic shock behavior of distended material. MD is a capable tool to capture and understand the varying mechanisms in both hard and soft distended systems. In the area of soft materials, research has been driven by two primary application areas: hot spot initiation in energetic materials, and pulse shaping with polymer foams. In hard materials, work has focused on how defects and phase transitions nucleate near, or interact with, collapsing pores. Here we will review atomistic methodologies for studying single void and collective porosity effects, summarize recent significant research findings, and propose future directions for the field of study.