Laboratory Investigation of the Impact Resistance of High-Strength Reinforced Concrete Against Impact Loading

Authors: Hadi Rouhi Belvirdi

Abstract:

Reinforced concrete structures, in addition to bearing service loads and seismic effects, may also be subjected to impact loads resulting from unforeseen incidents. Understanding the behavior of these structures is crucial, as they serve to protect against such sudden loads and can significantly reduce damage and destruction. In examining the behavior of structures under such loading conditions, a total of eight specimens of single-layer reinforced concrete slabs were subjected to impact loading through the free fall of weights from specified heights. The weights and dimensions of the specimens were uniform, and the amount of reinforcement was consistent. By altering the slabs' overall shape and the reinforcement details, efforts were made to optimize the behavior of the slabs against impact loads. The results indicated that utilizing ductile features in the slabs increased their resistance to impact loading. However, the compressive strength of the reinforcement did not significantly enhance the flexural resistance. Assuming a constant amount of longitudinal steel, changes in the placement of tensile reinforcement led to a decrease in resistance. With a fixed amount of transverse steel, merely adjusting the angle of the transverse reinforcement could help control cracking and mitigate premature failures. An increase in compressive resistance beyond a certain limit resulted in local buckling of the compressive zone, subsequently decreasing the impact resistance.

Keywords: Reinforced concrete slab, high-strength concrete, impact loading, seismic efforts, sudden loads, concrete compressive resistance.

References:

[1] Mansoori, A., Moein, M. M., Mohseni, E., Effect of micro silica on fiber-reinforced self-compacting composites containing ceramic waste. J. Compos. Mater. 2021, 55, 95–107.
[2] Koushkbaghi, M., Alipour, P., Tahmouresi, B., Mohseni, E., Saradar, A., Sarker, P. K., Influence of different monomer ratios and recycled concrete aggregate on mechanical properties and durability of geopolymer concretes. Constr. Build. Mater. 2019, 205, 519–528.
[3] Saradar, A., Tahmouresi, B., Mohseni, E., Shadmani, A., Restrained shrinkage cracking of fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete. Fibers 2018, 6, 12.
[4] Johari, M. M., Brooks, J., Kabir, S., Rivard, P., Influence of supplementary cementitious materials on engineering properties of high strength concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 2024, 25, 2639–2648.
[5] Neville, A. M., Properties of Concrete; Pitman: Wetherby, UK, 1973.
[6] Nili, M., Afroughsabet, V., Combined effect of silica fume and steel fibers on the impact resistance and mechanical properties of concrete. Int. J. Impact Eng. 2010, 37, 879–886.
[7] ACI Committee 544. Measurement of Properties of Fiber Reinforced Concrete; American Concrete Institute: Farmington Hills, MI, USA, 1988; pp. 583–593.
[8] Rahmani, T., Kiani, B., Shekarchi, M., Safari, A., Statistical and experimental analysis on the behavior of fiber reinforced concretes subjected to drop weight test. Constr. Build. Mater. 2012, 37, 360–369.
[9] Nataraja, M., Nagaraj, T., Basavaraja, S., Reproportioning of steel fibre reinforced concrete mixes and their impact resistance. Cem. Concr. Res. 2019, 35, 2350–2359.
[10] Nataraja, M., Dhang, N., Gupta, A, Statistical variations in impact resistance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete subjected to drop weight test. Cem. Concr. Res. 2023, 29, 989–995.
[11] Song, P., Wu, J., Hwang, S., Sheu, B., Assessment of statistical variations in impact resistance of high-strength concrete and high-strength steel fiber-reinforced concrete. Cem. Concr. Res. 2005, 35, 393–399.
[12] Yoo, D.-Y., Gohil, U., Gries, T., Yoon, Y.-S., Comparative low-velocity impact response of textile-reinforced concrete and steel-fiber-reinforced concrete beams. J. Compos. Mater. 2016, 50, 2421–2431.
[13] Mahakavi, P., Chithra, R., Impact resistance, microstructures and digital image processing on self-compacting concrete with hooked end and crimped steel fiber. Constr. Build. Mater. 2019, 220, 651–666.
[14] Pham, K. V. A., Nguyen, K. T., Le, T. A., Lee, K., Investigation of impact behavior of innovative non-curing steel fiber geopolymer composites. Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 2022, 16, e01011.
[15] Mosbahi, M., Qeyoumi, M., Alaghebandian, R., "Effect of Strength and Ductility of Steel in the Shear Resistance of Reinforced Concrete Frames," 10th Student Conference on Civil Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (2831).
[16] American Concrete Institute, Annual Student Concrete Egg Protection Device Competition Rules, Spring Convention, Vancouver, Canada, 2003.