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

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 2m×1m panels with various thicknesses and reinforcement details were tested under a 6t TNT equivalent explosion at standoff distances of 30 and 40m. 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.