Pre-stressed reinforced concrete elements under blast loading: Numerical analysis and shock tube testing

Advanced numerical and experimental analysis of complex structural loading conditions is presented within this paper. Major building components reinforced concrete (RC) walls are investigated with regard to their detonation resistance in various pre-stressed states. A multi-step simulation approach using successively both implicit and explicit integration schemes is followed to model the coupled static and dynamic loading. The simulation results underline the validity of the chosen modelling approach. A comparison of experimental and numerical values shows good agreement for deformation behaviour as well as for damage pattern. Beyond these predictive calculations further parameter variations indicate the dependency of highly dynamic structural response on quasi-static pre-load conditions.