Experimental investigation of axially loaded reinforced concrete square column subjected to lateral low‐velocity impact loading

Abstract

Design of reinforced concrete (RC) columns has been carried out under the effect of static loads and dynamic loads with long return period such as earthquake and wind. However, due to reasons such as the vehicle crash to the bridges of highway or seaway, rock fall, the collision of masses with the effect of flood and landslide, the effect of the blast‐induced air‐shock wave to buildings that have strategic importance, RC column may subject to sudden dynamic impact loads. For this reason, it is considered that the impact behavior of RC columns, which are highly important vertical load‐bearing members for the stability of structures, should be investigated and taken account of the design stage. For this purpose, an experimental study was performed. Sixteen RC square columns with the scale of 1/3 were manufactured and tested under impact load by using drop‐weight test setup that was specially designed by authors for impact tests of beam, column, and slab specimens. In the experimental study, the axial load level applied to RC column, input impact energy, and shear reinforcement ratio were taken as variables and with the effect of lateral impact energy applied to RC columns, time‐history of impact load acting on columns, the acceleration and the displacement values of columns were measured. The effect of experimental variables on the impact behavior of RC columns was determined and interpreted in detail. It has been demonstrated that axial load level, impact energy, and shear reinforcement ratio have a significant effect on the impact behavior of RC columns.