This study introduces a coupled peridynamics (PD) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model to handle the complex physical processes in concrete dam structures subjected to near-field underwater explosions. A robust coupling algorithm is applied to ensure accurate data exchange between PD and SPH domains, enabling the simulation of fluid-structure interactions. To account for the material behavior under high strain rates, a rate- dependent concrete model is integrated into the PD-SPH framework. The developed PD-SPH model is validated through simulations of centrifugal model tests, with results benchmarked against experimental findings and finite element method (FEM) predictions. The simulation captures key damage features, including horizontal tensile cracking at the dam head and an oblique penetrating crack in the dam body, forming an angle of approximately 17 degrees relative to the horizontal. Velocity and strain responses at critical monitoring points demonstrate strong agreement with FEM results, showcasing the model's capability in accurately predicting the structural responses and failure of concrete dams caused by underwater explosions. To the best of the authors' knowledge, research applying a coupled PD-SPH model to concrete structures under blast loading is still rare, particularly when considering the entire physical process, from explosive detonation to structural failure, accounting for fluid-structure interactions.

A comprehensive understanding of shale's bedding anisotropy is crucial for shale-related engineering activities, such as hydraulic fracturing, drilling and underground excavation. In this study, seven Brazilian tests were conducted on shale samples at different bedding orientations with respect to the loading direction (0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees) and the disc end face (0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees). An acoustic emission (AE) system was employed to capture the evolution of damage and the temporal-spatial distribution of microcracks under splitting-tensile stress. The results show that the Brazilian tensile strength decreases with increasing bedding inclination with respect to the disc end face, while it increases with the angle between bedding and loading directions. Increasing the bedding inclination with respect to the end face facilitates the reduction in b value and enhances the shale's resistance to microcrack growth during the loading process. Misalignment between the bedding orientation and the end face suppresses the growth of mixed tensile-shear microcracks, while reducing the bedding angle relative to the loading direction is beneficial for creating mixed tensile-shear and tensile cracks. The observed microscopic failure characteristics are attributed to the competing effects of bedding activation and breakage of shale matrix at different bedding inclinations. The temporal-spatial distribution of microcracks, characterized by AE statistics including the correlation dimension and spatial correlation length, illustrates that the fractal evolution of microcracks is independent of bedding anisotropy, whereas the spatial distribution shows a stronger correlation. The evolution features of correlation dimension and spatial correlation length could be potentially used as precursors for shale splitting failure. These findings may be useful for predicting rock mass instability and analyzing the causes of catastrophic rupture. (c) 2024 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/