Probabilistic modeling of discrete structural response with application to composite plate penetration models
This work provides a computationally feasible method for engineers to assess the probabilistic penetration response of composite plates, which is crucial for designing structures against ballistic impact.
This paper develops an efficient classification surrogate modeling algorithm for discrete structural responses, such as the probability of buckling, using an adaptive domain-based decomposition and classification method combined with sparse grid sampling. The method is applied to generate probabilistic penetration response (PVR) curves for composite plates under ballistic impact, enabling prediction of ballistic limit velocity and probability of penetration as a function of impact velocity.
Discrete response of structures is often a key probabilistic quantity of interest. For example, one may need to identify the probability of a binary event, such as, whether a structure has buckled or not. In this study, an adaptive domain-based decomposition and classification method, combined with sparse grid sampling, is used to develop an efficient classification surrogate modeling algorithm for such discrete outputs. An assumption of monotonic behaviour of the output with respect to all model parameters, based on the physics of the problem, helps to reduce the number of model evaluations and makes the algorithm more efficient. As an application problem, this paper deals with the development of a computational framework for generation of probabilistic penetration response of S-2 glass/SC-15 epoxy composite plates under ballistic impact. This enables the computationally feasible generation of the probabilistic velocity response (PVR) curve or the $V_0-V_{100}$ curve as a function of the impact velocity, and the ballistic limit velocity prediction as a function of the model parameters. The PVR curve incorporates the variability of the model input parameters and describes the probability of penetration of the plate as a function of impact velocity.