RESPONSE OF STRUCTURAL CONCRETE ELEMENTS TO SEVERE IMPULSIVE LOADS

The behavior and response of structural concrete elements under severe short duration dynamic loads was investigated numerically. The analyt ical approach utilized the Timoshenko beam theory for the analysis of reinforced concrete beams and one-way slabs. Nonlinear material models were used to derive the flexural and shear resistances, and the diffe rential equations of the Timoshenko beam theory were solved numericall y by applying the finite difference technique. A simplified approach w as developed for estimating the strain rate in structural concrete mem bers, and the corresponding strain rate effects on the strength of the steel and concrete were incorporated into the analysis. Detailed fail ure criteria were established for predicting the collapse of structura l concrete members. Five cases subjected to localized impact loads and eleven cases subjected to distributed explosive loads were analyzed, and the results were compared to experimental data obtained by other i nvestigators.