Behavior of Ultrahigh-Strength Prestressed Concrete Panels Subjected to Blast Loading

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation conducted in Woomera, South Australia in May 2004 on the blast-resistance of concrete panels made of ultrahigh-strength concrete (UHSC) material. A special concrete supporting frame was designed for testing concrete panel targets against blast loading. Four $2\mathrm{m}\times 1\mathrm{m}$ panels with various thicknesses and reinforcement details were tested under a $6\mathrm{t}$ TNT equivalent explosion at standoff distances of 30 and $40\mathrm{m}$ . Data collected from each specimen included blast pressures and deflections of panels. The test data were analyzed to assess the performance of UHSC and normal-strength concrete (NSC) panels. The test results and observations showed that the 100-mm-thick UHSC panels performed extremely well surviving the blast with minor cracks. The 75-mm-thick UHSC panel suffered moderate damage while the 100-mm-thick NSC panel was breached. Test results from this experimental program were used to validate a finite-element computer code that was developed by the writers to analyze concrete structures subjected to blast and impact loading.