Modelling the response of UHPFRC panels to explosive loading

Abstract

Explosive testing of full-size fibre-reinforced concrete panels was conducted at GL Industrial Services at Spadeadam test site, Cumbria, England in 2008. The panels were manufactured by VSL Australia and shipped to Spadeadam for testing. This paper reports these tests and a simplified analysis of the response of the panels. Each panel measured 3.5m by 1.3m by 100mm thick. The panels were contained within a large concrete enclosure to minimise clearing around the sides from the blast wave and placed between 7m and 12m from a 100 kg TNT equivalent explosive charge. Two of the panels were fabricated with different levels of steel fibre dosage. The remaining two panels were fabricated with steel fibres together with supplementary steel bar reinforcement. Numerical computer modelling was carried out using the Autodyn package to predict the behaviour of the four panels before testing. Based on the predictive modelling, each panel was placed a suitable distance from the explosive charge so as to cause permanent damage but not total structural collapse. The maximum flexural tensile strain rate evaluated on the back face of the panel was in the region of 1.0s -1 . Simplified modelling of the panels was also carried out using a singledegree-of-freedom representation together with a resistance-deflection relationship that took account of characteristic brittle cracking and ductile softening behaviour following ultimate capacity. An outline of the method with results is given in the paper.

Ultra-High Performance Concrete: Mechanical Performance, Durability, Sustainability and Implementation Challenges

“…Barnett et al (2010) tested UHPC panels of 3.50 9 1.30 9 0.10 m in size under blast loading using 100 kg TNT placed at different distances (7, 9 and 12 m). UHPC panels with conventional rebar reinforcement were able to sustain blast pressure of around 2500 kPa; UHPC panels incorporating steel fibers broke into two pieces at a blasting pressure of 500 kPa (Schleyer et al 2011). These experimental results correlated well with numerical findings (Mao et al 2014).…”

Response of small scale ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete slabs to blast loading

“…This absence provided the impetus for the work reported in this article, which formed part of a project to investigate the blast and impact resistance of UHPFRC [17][18][19].…”

Response of Ultra-High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete Wall Panels to Blast Loading

“…The high-energy absorption capacity of UHP-FRC, combined with its high resistance to scabbing, spalling, and fragmentation [7][8][9][10][11], makes it ideal for protective shields. The construction of shield plates plays an essential part in protecting existing strategic buildings against extreme loading conditions caused by blast, shock or impact loads [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”