Response Characteristics of Gabion Wall under Large TNT-Equivalent Explosives

Abstract

Owing to their convenient transportation, quick assembly, and high cost performance, gabion walls are widely used in the protection of critical infrastructure and personnel from explosions. To study the damage and response characteristics of the gabion wall under the action of large TNT-equivalent explosives, the blast resistant performance of the gabion wall under the ground explosions of one-ton and 10-ton TNT explosives was tested, and the shock wave and ground-motion time history of the explosions were obtained. Based on the data, the impact of shock waves and ground motion on the wall response is discussed, combined with numerical analysis. The critical overturning distance of the gabion wall and the factors affecting the stability of the wall are also discussed. The analysis results show that the shock wave played a decisive role in the response of the wall, whereas the effect of ground motion on the uplift of the wall was not significant. Under the action of the shock wave, the wall exhibited two main failure characteristics: flat overturning and bent overturning. In addition, scaled distance, structural form, and wall density primarily affected wall stability. A formula for the critical overturning distance of the wall subjected to ground explosion is proposed by combining experimental and numerical simulation data.