Numerical predictions of the behaviour of plain concrete targets subjected to impact

Abstract

One widely used model implemented in the hydrocode ANSYS Autodyn is the Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma material model, which is used for the prediction of concrete behaviour under severe loading, such as blast and impact. In the Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma model, parameters are adjusted to be a function of the compressive strength of specific concrete. This advantage enables occasional users (and those who cannot conduct experiments to determine all the required concrete parameters) to input only this parameter, while the rest is automatically calculated by default settings. This study is an attempt to calibrate (not modify) this model, with the least number of possible changes, to better predict the performance of concrete targets, particularly spalling and scabbing phenomena, impacted by hard projectiles. It is shown that the present calibration of the Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma material model performed well when compared to the default settings currently available in the model.