Results of an experimental study of reinforced concrete panels under blast detonations are presented. The primary purpose of the tests was to collect data for validating simulation methods for blast loads. The scaled distance ranged from 0.41 m/(kg) 1/3 to 0.57 m/(kg) 1/3 and hence the tests are close-in detonations. Four types of 1.2 m square panels were subjected to blast to investigate the performance of new walls: reinforced concrete (RC) panels; fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) panels without additional reinforcement; FRC panels reinforced with steel bars; and RC panels reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Another RC panel type was built which was retrofitted with external GFRP laminates on both faces. The performance of the panels is classified into three categories as medium protection, very low protection, and protection below antiterrorism standards. FRC panels reinforced with steel bars had the best performance for new construction. Panels that survived the blast detonation without sustaining a breach were tested under monotonic static loads to determine their static post-blast load resistance.

No abstract

No abstract

Idaho National Laboratory engineers collaborated with students and staff from the University of Utah to perform a series of drop hammer impact tests of concrete cylinders. A facility, which allows for a hammer composed of steel weights to be dropped from a height of 16 ft, was built at the University of Utah Structures Laboratory to deliver the dynamic force. In July 2011 the drop hammer was used to perform tests on cylinders with and without fiber reinforcement from drop heights of 16 ft and 8 ft. In April 2012, additional tests were conducted using the same procedure on concrete cylinders at elevated temperatures. A data acquisition system was used to collect strain gauge and load cell data. The tests were also recorded using two high speed cameras. The tests were designed to determine the dynamic properties at high strain rates of normal weight concrete and fiber reinforced concrete in tension and compression at room and elevated temperatures.

No abstract