How to Validate Explicit Simulations?

[Callumcmcl]

I am new to explicit simulations and have managed to get results which appear to be reliable but it has been difficult to find ways to mathematically validate the model without physical testing methods, what is the standard approach for these types of studies?

This is a simplified version of the geometry used in the simulation but the actual model is essentially a curved disc fragment impacting a flat plate.

 

[FEA way]

Energy output is crucial in explicit dynamics. Hopefully, your software provides enough energy components to validate different aspects of the simulation. You should also carefully check the deformed shape, stresses, strains, displacements and contact outputs (pressure, force). It's easy to miss some undesirable local effects in those simulations.

 

[swimfar]

Be careful using the word validate, because it has a very specific meaning in the analysis world. Validation is part of the Verification and Validation (V&V) process. Validation can only be done with physical test data (or maybe other analyses that have been validated).
Here's a good overview of V&V from the FEA perspective:

https://control.com/technical-articles/validation-and-verification-in-finite-element-analysis-fea/

Another article here:

https://www.digitalengineering247.com/article/verification-vs-validation/

If you don't have test data you can try to find existing test data for similar problems. If you can model those problems with good accuracy, this can give some additional confidence to the problem you're trying to solve. Your type of analysis looks like a relatively common one. You might be able to find some problems that are similar. In addition to journal articles, I'd search through thesis and dissertations for someone who has done a similar test comparison.