Numerical Study on the Behaviour of Hybrid FRPs Reinforced RC Slabs Subjected to Blast Loads

The safety of civilian and military infrastructure is a concern due to an increase in explosive risks,which has led to a demand for high-strength civil infrastructure with improved energy absorption capacity.In this study,a Finite Element(FE)numerical model was developed to determine the effect of hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer(FRP)as a strengthening material on full-scale Reinforced Concrete(RC)slabs.The reinforcing materials under consideration were Carbon(CFRP)and Glass(GFRP)fibres,which were subjected to blast loads to determine the structural response.A laminated composite fabric material model was utilized to model the failure of composite,which facilitates the consideration of strain rate effects.The damaged area of the laminate is determined in the FE model,and it is in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results in the literature.Models containing different stacking sequences were built to demonstrate their efficiency in resisting blast loads.In general,the damaged area was reduced when a hybrid reinforcement with CFRP as the top layer was used.

Blast waveform tailoring using controlled venting in blast simulators and shock tubes

A critical challenge of any blast simulation facility is in producing the widest possible pressure-impulse range for matching against equivalent high-explosive events.Shock tubes and blast simulators are often constrained with the lack of effective ways to control blast wave profiles and as a result have a limited performance range.Some wave shaping techniques employed in some facilities are reviewed but often necessitate extensive geometric modifications,inadvertently cause flow anomalies,and/or are only applicable under very specific configurations.This paper investigates controlled venting as an expedient way for waveforms to be tuned without requiring extensive modifications to the driver or existing geometry and could be widely applied by existing and future blast simulation and shock tube facilities.The use of controlled venting is demonstrated experimentally using the Advanced Blast Simulator(shock tube)at the Australian National Facility of Physical Blast Simulation and via numerical flow simulations with Computational Fluid Dynamics.Controlled venting is determined as an effective method for mitigating the impact of re-reflected waves within the blast simulator.This control method also allows for the adjustment of parameters such as tuning the peak overpressure,the positive phase duration,and modifying the magnitude of the negative phase and the secondary shock of the blast waves.This paper is concluded with an illustration of the potential expanded performance range of the Australian blast simulation facility when controlled venting for blast waveform tailoring as presented in this paper is applied.

Determination method of mesh size for numerical simulation of blast load in near-ground detonation

In order to improve the overall resilience of the urban infrastructures, it is required to conduct blast resistant design for important building structures in the city. For complex terrain in the city, it is recommended to determine the blast load on the structures via numerical simulation. Since the mesh size of the numerical model highly depends on the explosion scenario, there is no generally applicable approach for the mesh size selection. An efficient method to determine the mesh size of the numerical model of near-ground detonation based on explosion scenarios is proposed in this study. The effect of mesh size on the propagation of blast wave under different explosive weights was studied, and the correlations between the mesh size effect and the charge weight or the scaled distance was described. Based on the principle of the finite element method and Hopkinson-Cranz scaling law, a mesh size measurement unit related to the explosive weight was proposed as the criterion for determining the mesh size in the numerical simulation. Finally, the applicability of the method proposed in this paper was verified by comparing the results from numerical simulation and the explosion tests and was verified in AUTODYN.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Predicting Pipeline Response to Various Blast Scenarios: A Numerical Modeling Study

Recent industrial explosions globally have intensified the focus in mechanical engineering on designing infras-tructure systems and networks capable of withstanding blast loading.Initially centered on high-profile facilities such as embassies and petrochemical plants,this concern now extends to a wider array of infrastructures and facilities.Engineers and scholars increasingly prioritize structural safety against explosions,particularly to prevent disproportionate collapse and damage to nearby structures.Urbanization has further amplified the reliance on oil and gas pipelines,making them vital for urban life and prime targets for terrorist activities.Consequently,there is a growing imperative for computational engineering solutions to tackle blast loading on pipelines and mitigate associated risks to avert disasters.In this study,an empty pipe model was successfully validated under contact blast conditions using Abaqus software,a powerful tool in mechanical engineering for simulating blast effects on buried pipelines.Employing a Eulerian-Lagrangian computational fluid dynamics approach,the investigation extended to above-surface and below-surface blasts at standoff distances of 25 and 50 mm.Material descriptions in the numerical model relied on Abaqus’default mechanical models.Comparative analysis revealed varying pipe performance,with deformation decreasing as explosion-to-pipe distance increased.The explosion’s location relative to the pipe surface notably influenced deformation levels,a key finding highlighted in the study.Moreover,quantitative findings indicated varying ratios of plastic dissipation energy(PDE)for different blast scenarios compared to the contact blast(P0).Specifically,P1(25 mm subsurface blast)and P2(50 mm subsurface blast)showed approximately 24.07%and 14.77%of P0’s PDE,respectively,while P3(25 mm above-surface blast)and P4(50 mm above-surface blast)exhibited lower PDE values,accounting for about 18.08%and 9.67%of P0’s PDE,respectively.Utilising energy-absorbing materials such as thin coatings of ultra-high-strength concrete,metallic foams,carbon fiber-reinforced polymer wraps,and others on the pipeline to effectively mitigate blast damage is recommended.This research contributes to the advancement of mechanical engineering by providing insights and solutions crucial for enhancing the resilience and safety of underground pipelines in the face of blast events.

Transient responses of double-curved sandwich two-layer shells resting on Kerr's foundations with laminated three-phase polymer/GNP/fiber surface and auxetic honeycomb core subjected to the blast load

This work uses refined first-order shear theory to analyze the free vibration and transient responses of double-curved sandwich two-layer shells made of auxetic honeycomb core and laminated three-phase polymer/GNP/fiber surface subjected to the blast load.Each of the two layers that make up the double-curved shell structure is made up of an auxetic honeycomb core and two laminated sheets of three-phase polymer/GNP/fiber.The exterior is supported by a Kerr elastic foundation with three characteristics.The key innovation of the proposed theory is that the transverse shear stresses are zero at two free surfaces of each layer.In contrast to previous first-order shear deformation theories,no shear correction factor is required.Navier's exact solution was used to treat the double-curved shell problem with a single title boundary,while the finite element technique and an eight-node quadrilateral were used to address the other boundary requirements.To ensure the accuracy of these results,a thorough comparison technique is employed in conjunction with credible statements.The problem model's edge cases allow for this kind of analysis.The study's findings may be used in the post-construction evaluation of military and civil works structures for their ability to sustain explosive loads.In addition,this is also an important basis for the calculation and design of shell structures made of smart materials when subjected to shock waves or explosive loads.

Transient response of doubly-curved bio-inspired composite shells resting on viscoelastic foundation subject to blast load using improved first-order shear theory and isogeometric approach

Investigating natural-inspired applications is a perennially appealing subject for scientists. The current increase in the speed of natural-origin structure growth may be linked to their superior mechanical properties and environmental resilience. Biological composite structures with helicoidal schemes and designs have remarkable capacities to absorb impact energy and withstand damage. However, there is a dearth of extensive study on the influence of fiber redirection and reorientation inside the matrix of a helicoid structure on its mechanical performance and reactivity. The present study aimed to explore the static and transient responses of a bio-inspired helicoid laminated composite(B-iHLC) shell under the influence of an explosive load using an isomorphic method. The structural integrity of the shell is maintained by a viscoelastic basis known as the Pasternak foundation, which encompasses two coefficients of stiffness and one coefficient of damping. The equilibrium equations governing shell dynamics are obtained by using Hamilton's principle and including the modified first-order shear theory,therefore obviating the need to employ a shear correction factor. The paper's model and approach are validated by doing numerical comparisons with respected publications. The findings of this study may be used in the construction of military and civilian infrastructure in situations when the structure is subjected to severe stresses that might potentially result in catastrophic collapse. The findings of this paper serve as the foundation for several other issues, including geometric optimization and the dynamic response of similar mechanical structures.

Numerical investigation on free air blast loads generated from center-initiated cylindrical charges with varied aspect ratio in arbitrary orientation

In current guidelines, the free air blast loads(overpressure and impulse) are determined by spherical charges, although most of ordnance devices are more nearly cylindrical than spherical in geometry. This may result in a great underestimation of blast loads in the near field and lead to an unsafe design.However, there is still a lack of systematic quantitative analysis of the blast loads generated from cylindrical charges. In this study, a numerical model is developed by using the hydrocode AUTODYN to investigate the influences of aspect ratio and orientation on the free air blast loads generated from center-initiated cylindrical charges. This is done by examining the pressure contours, the peak overpressures and impulses for various aspect ratios ranged from 1 to 8 and arbitrary orientation monitored along every azimuth angle with an interval of 5°. To characterize the distribution patterns of blast loads,three regions, i.e., the axial region, the vertex region and the radial region are identified, and the propagation of blast waves in each region is analyzed in detail. The complexity of blast loads of cylindrical charges is found to result from the bridge wave and its interaction with primary waves. Several empirical formulas are presented based on curve-fitting the numerical data, including the orientation where the maximum peak overpressure emerges, the critical scaled distance beyond which the charge shape effect could be neglected and blast loads with varied aspect ratio in arbitrary orientation, all of which are useful for blast-resistant design.

Numerical Analysis of Structural Progressive Collapse to Blast Loads

After the progressive collapse of Ronan Point apartment in UK in 1968, intensive research effort had been spent on developing guidelines for design of new or strengthening the existing structures to prevent progressive collapse. However, only very few building design codes provide some rather general guidance, no detailed design requirement is given. Progressive collapse of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City and the World Trade Centre (WTC) sparked again tremendous research interest on progressive collapse of structures. Recently, US Department of Defence (DoD) and US General Service Administration (GSA) issued guidelines for structure progressive collapse analysis. These two guidelines are most commonly used, but their accuracy is not known. This paper presents numerical analysis of progressive collapse of an example frame structure to blast loads. The DoD and GSA procedures are also used to analyse the same example structure. Numerical results are compared and discussed. The accuracy and the applicability of the two design guidelines are evaluated.

Methods for Progressive Collapse Analysis of Building Structures Under Blast and Impact Loads

Progressive collapse of building structures under blast and impact loads has attracted great attention all over the world. Progressive collapse analysis is essential for an economic and safe design of building structures against progressive collapse to blast and impact loads. Because of the catastrophic nature of progressive collapse and the potentially high cost of constructing or retrofitting buildings to resist it, it is imperative that the progressive collapse analysis methods be reliable. For engineers, their methodology to carry out progressive collapse evaluation need not only be accurate and concise, but also be easily used and works fast. Thus, many researchers have been spending lots of effort in developing reliable, efficient and straightforward progressive collapse analysis methods recently. In the present paper, current progressive collapse analysis methods available in the literature are reviewed. Their suitability, applicability and reliability are discussed. Our recent proposed new method for progressive collapse analysis of reinforced concrete frames under blast loads is also introduced.

Blasting cumulative damage effects of underground engineering rock mass based on sonic wave measurement

The principle of sonic wave measurement was introduced, and cumulative damage effects of underground engineering rock mass under blasting load were studied by in situ test, using RSM-SY5 intelligent sonic wave apparatus. The blasting test was carried out for ten times at some tunnels of Changba Lead-Zinc Mine. The damage depth of surrounding rock caused by old blasting excavation （0.8-1.2 m） was confirmed. The relation between the cumulative damage degree and blast times was obtained. The results show that the sonic velocity decreases gradually with increasing blast times, hut the damage degree （D） increases. The damage cumulative law is non-linear. The damage degree caused by blast decreases with increasing distance, and damage effects become indistinct. The blasting damage of rock mass is anisotropic. The damage degree of rock mass within charging range is maximal. And the more the charge is, the more severe the damage degree of rock mass is. The test results provide references for researches of mechanical parameters of rock mass and dynamic stability analysis of underground chambers.

Vibration Effect and Damage Evolution Characteristics of Tunnel Surrounding Rock Under Cyclic Blasting Loading

Model test studies based on the similarity theory were conducted to investigate vibration effect and damage evolution characteristics of tunnel surrounding rock under push-type cyclic blasting excavation.The model was constructed with a ratio of 1∶15.By simulating the tunnel excavation of push-type cyclic blasting,the influence of the blasting parameter change on vibration effect was explored.The damage degree of tunnel surrounding rock was evaluated by the change of the acoustic wave velocity at the same measuring point after blasting.The relationship between the damage evolution of surrounding rock and blasting times was established.The research results show that：（1）In the same geological environment,the number of delay initiation is larger,the main vibration frequency of blasting seismic wave is higher,and the attenuation of high frequency signal in the rock and soil is faster.The influence of number of delay initiation on blasting vibration effect cannot be ignored;（2）Under push-type cyclic blasting excavation,there were great differences in the decreasing rates of acoustic wave velocity of the measuring points which have the same distance to the blasting region at the same depth,and the blasting damage ranges of surrounding rock were typically anisotropic at both depth and breadth;（3）When blasting parameters were basically kept as the same,the growth trend of the cumulative acoustic wave velocity decreasing rate at the measuring point was nonlinear under different cycle blasting excavations;（4）There were nonlinear evolution characteristics between the blasting cumulative damage（D）of surrounding rock and blasting times（n）under push-type cyclic blasting loading,and different measuring points had corresponding blasting cumulative damage propagation models,respectively.The closer the measuring point was away from the explosion source,the faster the cumulative damage extension.Blasting cumulative damage effect of surrounding rock had typically nonlinear evolution properties and anisotropic characteristics.

Analytical Solutions to Strain Rates of Reinforced Concrete Simply Supported Slabs under Blast Loads

Based on the Duhamel integral, a couple of analytical solutions are derived to predict the strain rates of concrete and steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete slabs under blast loads and to estimate their variation over depth of a cross-section along the entire length of the member. The analytical approach utilizes the single-degree-of-freedom mode for the analysis of reinforced concrete simply supported one-way panels subjected to blast loads. These analytical solutions can give the strain rate profile for any cross-section at any time and permit variations of strain rate in each time step of numerical iteration method, thus making it possible to directly incorporate strain rate effects into non-linear dynamic response analysis of structural members subjected to blast loads.

Analysis of blasting damage in adjacent mining excavations

Following a small-scale wedge failure at Yukon Zinc＇s Wolverine Mine in Yukon, Canada, a vibration monitoring program was added to the existing rockbolt pull testing regime. The failure in the 1150 drift occurred after numerous successive blasts in an adjacent tunnel had loosened friction bolts passing through an unmapped fault. Analysis of blasting vibration revealed that support integrity is not compromised unless there is a geological structure to act as a failure plane. The peak particle velocity（PPV） rarely exceeded 250 mm/s with a frequency larger than 50 Hz. As expected, blasting more competent rock resulted in higher PPVs. In such cases, reducing the round length from 3.5 m to 2.0 m was an effective means of limiting potential rock mass and support damage.

Some aspects affecting the response of RC compartment structures subjected to internal blast loads

Protective compartments are typically used to protect some specific structures from internal explosions,such as industrial buildings that contain devices that may explode in certain circumstances.This research investigates how the response of reinforced concrete(RC)compartment structures subjected to internal blast loads are affected by the following aspects:introduction of material nonlinearity in the analysis,reinforcement ratio,and aspect ratio of the compartment.To achieve this goal,a calibrated and sophisticated FE numerical model is introduced,and a parametric study for the intended aspects is carried out.A discussion of the results and conclusions are offered,which show the role of each aspect in the dynamic performance of the compartment structures.The main conclusions are as follows:introduction of material nonlinearity in this type of analysis and for these structures is very important and significant in obtaining accurate outputs that are similar to actual behavior;the reinforcement ratio has a significant effect on the response and its effect varies depending on the thickness of the compartment;in general,increasing the reinforcement ratio enhances the behavior and reduces the stresses in the compartment;and the aspect ratio of the compartment does not show a clear pattern on the response of such structures under internal blast loads.

External blast flow field evolution and response mechanism of single-layer reticulated dome structure

Single-layer reticulated dome structure are commonly high-profile building in the public and can be attractive targets for terrorist bombings,so the public can benefit from enhanced safety with a stronger understanding of the behavior of single-layer reticulated dome structure under explosion.This paper investigates the fluid-structure interaction process and the dynamic response performance of the singlelayer reticulated dome under external blast load.Both experimental and numerical results shown that structural deformation is remarkably delayed compared with the velocity of blast wave,which advises the dynamic response of large-span reticulated dome structure has a negligible effect on the blast wave propagation under explosion.Four failure modes are identified by comparing the plastic development of each ring and the residual spatial geometric of the structure,i.e.,minor vibration,local depression,severe damage,and overall collapse.The plastic deformation energy and the displacement potential energy of the structure are the main consumers of the blast energy.In addition,the stress performance of the vertex member and the deep plastic ratio of the whole structure can serve as qualitative indicators to distinguish different failure modes.

Analysis and design for the comprehensive ballistic and blast resistance of polyurea-coated steel plate

Fragments and blast waves generated by explosions pose a serious threat to protective structures.In this paper,the impact resistance of polyurea-coated steel plate under complex dynamic loading is analyzed and designed for improving comprehensive ballistic and blast resistance using the newly established computational evaluating model.Firstly,according to the thickness and placement effects of the coating on the impact resistance,the steel-core sandwich plates are designed,which are proved to own outstanding comprehensive ballistic and blast resistance.Besides,the distribution diagram of ballistic and blast resistance for different polyurea-coated steel plates is given to guide the design of protective structures applying in different explosion scenarios.Furthermore,the dynamic response of designed plates under two scenarios with combined fragments and blast loading is studied.The results show that the synergistic effect of the combined loading reduces both the ballistic and blast resistance of the polyurea-coated steel plate.Besides,the acting sequence of the fragments and blast affects the structural protective performance heavily.It is found that the first loading inducing structural large deformation or damage is dominant.When fragments impact first,the excellent unit-thickness ballistic performance of the structural front part is strongly needed for improving the comprehensive ballistic and blast resistance.

Modeling the blast load induced by a close-in explosion considering cylindrical charge parameters

Structural damage is significantly influenced by the various parameters of a close-in explosion.To establish a close-in blast loading model for cylindrical charges according to these parameters,a series of field experiments and a systematic numerical analysis were conducted.A high-fidelity finite element model developed using AUTODYN was first validated using blast data collected from field tests conducted in this and previous studies.A quantitative analysis was then performed to determine the influence of the charge shape,aspect ratio(length to diameter),orientation,and detonation configuration on the characteristics and distributions of the blast loading(incident peak overpressure and impulse)according to scaled distance.The results revealed that the secondary peak overpressure generated by a cylindrical charge was mainly distributed along the axial direction and was smaller than the overpressure generated by an equivalent spherical charge.The effects of charge shape on the blast loading at 45°and 67.5°in the axial plane could be neglected at scaled distances greater than 2 m/kg^(1/3);the effect of aspect ratios greater than 2 on the peak overpressure in the 90°(radial)direction could be neglected at all scaled distances;and double-end detonation increased the radial blast loading by up to 60%compared to singleend detonation.Finally,an empirical cylindrical charge blast loading model was developed considering the influences of charge aspect ratio,orientation,and detonation configuration.The results obtained in this study can serve as a reference for the design of blast tests using cylindrical charges and aid engineers in the design of blast-resistant structures.

Experimental investigation of ultra-early-strength cement-based selfcompacting high strength concrete slabs(URCS)under contact explosions

In this paper,UR50 ultra-early-strength cement-based self-compacting high-strength concrete slabs(URCS)have been subjected to contact explosion tests with different TNT charge quality,aiming to evaluate the anti-explosive performance of URCS.In the experiment,three kinds of ultra-early-strength cement-based reinforced concrete slabs with different reinforcement ratios and a normal concrete slab(NRCS)were used as the control specimen,the curing time of URCS is 28 days and 24 h respectively.The research results show that URCS has a stronger anti-explosion ability than NRCS.The failure mode of URCS under contact explosion is that the front of the reinforced concrete slab explodes into a crater,and the back is spall.With the increase of the charge,the failure mode of the reinforced concrete slab gradually changed to explosive penetration and explosive punching.The experiment results also show that the reinforcement ratio of URCS has little effect on the anti-blast performance,and URCS can reach its anti-blast performance at 28 days after curing for 24 h.On this basis,the damage parameters of URCS for different curing durations were quantified,and an empirical formula for predicting the diameter of the crater and spalling was established.

Dynamic response of UHMWPE plates under combined shock and fragment loading

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)fiber composite has been extensively used to construct lightweight protective structures against ballistic impacts,yet little is known about its performance when subjected to combined blast and fragment impacts.Built upon a recently developed laboratory-scale experimental technique to generate simulated combined loading through the impact of a fragment-foam composite projectile launched from a light gas gun,the dynamic responses of fullyclamped UHMWPE plates subjected to combined loading were characterized experimentally,with corresponding deformation and failure modes compared with those measured with simulated blast loading alone.Subsequently,to explore the underlying physical mechanisms,three-dimensional(3D)numerical simulations with the method of finite elements(FE)were systematically carried out.Numerical predictions compared favorably well with experimental measurements,thus validating the feasibility of the established FE model.Relative to the case of blast loading alone,combined blast and fragment loading led to larger maximum deflections of clamped UHMWPE plates.The position of the FSP in the foam sabot affected significantly the performance of a UHMWPE target,either enhancing or decreasing its ballistic resistance.When the blast loading and fragment impact arrived simultaneously at the target,its ballistic resistance was superior to that achieved when subjected to fragment impact alone,and benefited from the accelerated movement of the target due to simultaneous blast loading.

Sensitivity analysis and probability modelling of the structural response of a single-layer reticulated dome subjected to an external blast loading

The structural response of a single-layer reticulated dome to external explosions is shaped by many variables,and the associated uncertainties imply non-deterministic results.Existing deterministic methods for predicting the consequences of specific explosions do not account for these uncertainties.Therefore,the impact of the uncertainties associated with these input variables on the structures’response needs to be studied and quantified.In this study,a parametric uncertainty analysis was conducted first.Then,local and global sensitivity analyses were carried out to identify the drivers of the structural dynamic response.A probabilistic structural response model was established based on sensitive variables and a reasonable sample size.Furthermore,some deterministic empirical methods for explosion-resistance design,including the plane blast load model of CONWEP,the curved blast load model under the 50%assurance level,and the 20%mass-increased method,were used for evaluating their reliability.The results of the analyses revealed that the structural response of a single-layer reticulated dome to an external blast loading is lognormally distributed.Evidently,the MB0.5 method based on the curved reflector load model yielded results with a relatively stable assurance rate and reliability,but CONWEP did not;thus,the 1.2MB0.5 method can be used for making high-confidence simple predictions.In addition,the results indicated that the structural response is very sensitive to the explosion parameters.Based on these results,it is suggested that for explosion proofing,setting up a defensive barrier is more effective than structural strengthening.