Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Slab Behavior under Impact Loading

Abstract

Reinforced concrete slabs are among the most common structural elements. In spite of the large number of slabs designed and built, the effect of their details on their behavior under impact loads are not always appreciated or properly taken into account. Reinforced concrete slabs exhibit interesting behavior under severe dynamic loads associated with impact and explosions. The assessment of the behavior of structural concrete slabs subjected to impact loading requires tools that can be used to analyze and design structural element that will improve the state of the art of protective design. The behavior of concrete slabs under impact loading was studied numerically. This numerical study was aimed at understanding the dynamic behavior of structural concrete slabs under impact loading before conducting full scale experimental tests. This study investigated the effects of different types of slab reinforcements and the applied impact loads on the dynamic response and behavior of reinforced concrete slabs. Threedimensional numerical simulations were performed with the computer code ABAQUS/Explicit, addressing the parameters associated with the impact load and concrete slab. The effects of different types of slab reinforcement and the applied impact load on the behavior and dynamic response of concrete slabs were numerically investigated. Three different types of 90 x 1,524 x 3,353 mm (3-1/2� x 5� x 11�) slabs were simulated, as follows: First; using two 152 x 152 mm (6�x 6�) meshes of welded steel wires located under 25 mm (1�) of concrete cover on both faces of the slab; second, with one 152 x 152 mm (6�x 6�) mesh of No. 3 steel bars located at the middle of the slab thickness; and third, with two 152 x 152 mm (6�x 6�) meshes of No. 3 steel bars located under 25 mm (1�) of concrete cover on both faces of the slab. The drop heights of the impact weight were 152 mm, 305 mm, and 610 mm (6, 12, and 24), respectively.