A parametric numerical investigation for enhancing the impact resistance of concrete

Abstract

Concrete has been widely used in strategic structures which may be exposed to impact and blast loads resulting from accidental events and terrorist attacks. The development of a novel material configuration that can enhance the concrete properties under impact loading is very important to avoid human and economic losses in such cases. In this paper, a hybrid numerical and experimental study is carried out in order to explore an optimum material configuration which could be utilized for achieving an enhancement in the impact resistance. Due to the numerous advantages of the FE method, it provides a good opportunity to approximate the structural behaviour under extreme loading conditions. A 3D FE model has been developed for plain concrete beams subjected to low velocity impact. The response of concrete has been modelled using CDP model and the influence of various parameters on the impact resistance has been investigated by varying the parameters over a wide range of values. Experimental testing of beams having size 500 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm subjected to impact loading of 6 kg weight is performed which is also used to validate the FE model developed in this study. The FE model is used to determine optimum values of the parameters that result in maximum impact resistance of concrete. The results show that the use of suggested material configuration consisting of optimum CDP parameters has the ability to enhance the impact resistance of concrete. © Fédération Internationale du Béton (fib) – International Federation for Structural Concrete.