Blast-resistant performance of a two-stage concrete plate subjected to contact explosions

Abstract

Threats posed by explosions due to terrorism or industrial accidents should be considered in the structural design of infrastructure and other valuable facilities. Protective structures, such as perimeter concrete walls, are effective at reducing explosive damage. Although two-stage concrete (TSC) has some advantages over conventional concrete in constructing such protective structures, studies concerning the behavior of TSC subjected to blast loads are very limited. In the current study, the effects of TSC strength, maximum diameter of coarse aggregate, and type of coarse aggregate are examined experimentally to determine how these parameters affect the local failure of a TSC plate subjected to contact explosion. For various TSC strengths and properties of coarse aggregate, critical values of spall occurrence as a function of plate thickness and charge mass are provided, and prediction equations of local failure depth are provided.