Performance of Geogrid Reinforced Concrete Slabs under Drop Weight Impact Loading

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are often subjected to extreme dynamic loading conditions, mainly caused by effects of impact loading. A countable studies have been carried out on the structural behaviour of RC slabs under static and dynamic loadings. However, it is relatively infrequent to examine the impact behaviour of RC slabs that are embedded with non-conventional reinforcement layouts. Consequently, an experimental study was performed to examine the impact behaviour of geogrid reinforced concrete slabs. A total of six RC slab specimens embedded with different combination of steel and geogrid reinforcement layers was tested under drop weight impact test. The impact response in terms of failure modes, impact energy, impact ductility index and maximum deflection produced at each impact blow were studied. The results showed that, the RC slab specimens provided with geogrid reinforcement layer at both faces of slab specimens along with the conventional reinforcement resisted the crushing of concrete by spreading the impact stress to a larger area. This configuration of reinforcement also helps to withstand for higher impact forces, thereby influencing the enrichment in impact energy and impact ductility index.