Crack Propagation and Local Failure Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Subjected to Projectile Impact Using RBSM

Abstract

In this paper, numerical simulations of reinforced mortar beams subjected to projectile impact are conducted by using the proposed 3-D Rigid-Body-Spring Model (RBSM) in order to investigate mechanisms of crack propagation and scabbing mode of concrete members under high-velocity impact. The RBSM is one of the discrete-type numerical methods, which represents a continuum material as an assemblage of rigid particle interconnected by springs. The RBSM have advantages in modeling localized and oriented phenomena, such as cracking, its propagation, frictional slip and so on, in concrete structures. The authors have already developed constitutive models for the 3D RBSM with random geometry generated Voronoi diagram in order to quantitatively evaluate the mechanical responses of concrete including softening and localization fractures, and have shown that the model can simulate cracking and various failure modes of reinforced concrete structures. In the target tests, projectile velocity is set 200m/s. The reinforced mortar beams with or without the shear reinforcing steel plates were used to investigate the effects of shear reinforcement on the crack propagation and the local failure modes. By comparing the numerical results with the test results, it is confirmed that the proposed model can reproduce well the crack propagation and the local failure behaviors. In addition, effects of the reinforcing plates on the stress wave and the crack propagation behaviors are discussed from the observation of the numerical simulation results. As a result, it was found that scabbing of reinforced mortar beams subjected to high velocity impact which is in the range of the tests is caused by mainly shear deformation of a beam.