Dynamic response of UHPC members under internal and external blast loading

Abstract

In this study, a finite difference procedure validated by blast testing data was used to analyze the dynamic response of a simply supported UHPC (Ultra-high performance concrete) slab under internal and external blast loads. With the validated finite difference model, an investigation was performed to characterize the structural response under confined blast loads including the effect of multiple pressure peaks. It was found that internal explosions cause more damage to structural members and different structural response patterns due to a longer loading, and hence larger impulse, when compared to an external explosion of the same explosive weight and stand-off distance. A pressure-time history consisting of multiple pressure peaks could be simplified to a single peak when the structural response time to maximum deflection is greater than three times the loading duration.