Parametric Study on Contact Explosion Resistance of Steel Wire Mesh Reinforced Geopolymer Based Ultra-High Performance Concrete Slabs Using Calibrated Continuous Surface Cap Model

Abstract

This paper conducts a parametric analysis on the response of geopolymer-based ultra-high-performance concrete (G-UHPC) slabs reinforced with steel wire mesh (SWM) subjected to contact explosions using the validated Continuous Surface Cap (CSC) model. Firstly, based on the available experimental data, the CSC model parameters, which account for the yield surface, damage formulation, kinematic hardening, and strain rate effect, were comprehensively developed for G-UHPC. The modified CSC model was initially assessed by comparing the quasi-static test results of G-UHPC. Then, the numerical modeling was performed on 200 mm thick SWM-reinforced G-UHPC slabs against 0.4 kg and 1.0 kg TNT contact explosions. The fair agreement between the numerical and experimental data concerning the local damage of the slabs was reported to demonstrate the applicability of the material and structural models. With the validated numerical models, a parametric study was further acted upon to explore the contribution of the variables of SWM, slab thickness, and TNT equivalence on the local damage and energy evolution of G-UHPC slabs subjected to contact blasts. Moreover, based on simulation results from the parametric study, an updated empirical model was derived to evaluate the local damage pattern and internal energy absorption rate of SWM-reinforced G-UHPC slabs.