Blast Response Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Slabs: Experimental Procedure and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

A series of blast loading experiments are performed with the aim of providing experimental data for the development and adjustment of numerical tools needed in the modeling of concrete elements subjected to blast. To this end, an experimental setup that allows testing up to four concrete elements simultaneously under the same blast load is developed. Altogether four detonation tests are conducted, in which 12 slabs of two different concrete types are subjected to the same blast load. Results of the experimental program are validated by numerical simulation using two different material models for the prediction of concrete behavior. Major assets of the experimental setup presented are the reduction of scattering on detonation tests and its cost effectiveness. Results from tests and numerical simulations suggest that the ability of reinforced concrete structures of withstanding blast loads is primarily governed by their tensile strength.