Abstract

The work reported in this paper is aimed towards better understanding the behavior of reinforced concrete flexural members built with high-strength reinforcement (HSR) under blast loading. As part of the study, a series of high-strength concrete (HSC) beams built with ASTM A1035 Grade 690 MPa bars are tested under simulated blast loads using a shock-tube. Parameters investigated include the effect of steel type (Grade 690 MPa vs. 400 MPa), concrete strength (100 MPa vs. 50 MPa) and reinforcement ratio (ρ = 1%–2.2%). The effect of loading rate is investigated by testing a companion set of beams under slowly applied (quasi-static) loading. The results show that use of high-strength steel in HSC beams results in increased blast capacity and improved control of displacements at equivalent blasts. The use of high-strength concrete is also found to be better suited for beams reinforced with high-strength bars. The results further demonstrate the importance of ensuring beams designed with high-strength bars are under-reinforced and provided with sufficient shear reinforcement. The blast response of the beams is predicted analytically using dynamic analysis.

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