Author(s)

J. M. Magallanes

Abstract

This paper reviews the importance of concrete material characterization and modelling to predicting the response of reinforced concrete structures to impulsive loads using physics-based finite element models. Comparisons of several widely available concrete constitutive models are presented pertaining to their ability to reproduce basic laboratory data for concrete as well as predict the response of structures subjected to shock and impact loadings. The examples presented here illustrate important differences between the various models in addition to illustrating some key concrete behaviours that the models should be able to capture. Keywords: concrete, material characterization, constitutive models, finite element, shock, blast, impact. 1 Introduction Structural response predictions using physics-based Lagrangian finite element (FE) models with explicit time-integration are widely used by both academics and practitioners to determine the behaviours of reinforced concrete (RC) structures subjected to a variety of shock and impact loadings. As full-scale structural response test data is costly and difficult to obtain, verified and validated FE models afford the ability to generate consistent sets of virtual response data from which to study structural behaviours, formulate simplified engineering models, and develop new structural and material designs aimed at increasing resistance to these types of loads. The advancement of FE methods

Keywords

concrete, material characterization, constitutive models, finite element, shock, blast, impact.