Impact behavior of plain, reinforced and prestressed concrete targets

Abstract

The ballistic enactment of plain, reinforced and prestressed concrete targets of unconfined compressive strength 48MPa counter to 0.5kg hard steel projectiles was studied through ballistic experiments and numerical investigation in finite element code ABAQUS. The square targets of dimensions 450mm×450mm and two thicknesses of 60, and 100mm were subjected to normal impact by 0.5kg ogive nosed hardened steel projectiles of shaft diameter 19mm and length 225mm. An initial stress of around 4–5MPa (10% of unconfined compressive strength) was also induced in the prestressed concrete targets. The ballistic experiments were carried out at varying striking velocities in the range of 100–255m/s, and the results thus acquired with respect to magnitude and vicinity of damage, volume of spalling and scabbing as well as ballistic resistance for three different concretes have been compared with their numerical reproductions. The induced prestressing in the concrete, stimulated globalization in deformation and thus enhanced the ballistic resistance of the target. The prestressing in the prestressed concrete has been found most prominent in minimizing the scabbing and spalling of target followed by reinforcement in the reinforced concrete.