Shock response of a system of two submerged co-axial cylindrical shells coupled by the inter-shell fluid

The shock response of a submerged system consisting of two co-axial cylindrical shells coupled with the fluid filling the inter-shell space is considered. The shock–structure interaction is modeled using a semi-analytical methodology based on the use of the classical apparatus of mathematical physics. Both the fluid and structural dynamics of the interaction is addressed, with special attention paid to the interplay between the two. It is demonstrated that the wave effects due to multiple reflections of the pressure waves travelling in the inter-shell fluid to a large degree determine the structural dynamics of the system, but have a more pronounced effect on the outer shell than on the inner one. It is also established that the effect of changing the thickness of the outer shell on the stress–strain state of the inner shell is incomparably more pronounced than vice versa. The investigation culminates with the results of a parametric study of the overall peak stress in the system, an example of utilizing the approach developed based on the introduced model and aiming at facilitating structural optimization of industrial systems at the pre-design stage in the context of shock resistance.