Failure mechanism of reinforced concrete subjected to projectile impact loading

The study of failure mechanism of reinforced concrete subjected to high-energy projectile impact loading has important significance to accurately evaluate the impact resistance of structures and reasonably design and construct engineering structures. In this study, experiments in which high-speed (>1000 m/s) projectiles impact 1000-mm-thick slabs of reinforced concrete were performed and the damage of the reinforced concrete slabs were measured. Then, an analytical model of the characteristics of reinforced concrete subjected to projectile impact loading is constructed. The principles of energy conservation and minimum potential energy are used to formulate explicit equations for the perforation performance of reinforced concrete. These theoretical predictions agree with our experimental results and with similar published studies. Furthermore, in the context of our model, the effects of impact velocity, concrete compressive strength, and reinforcement ratio on the perforation performance of reinforced concrete are discussed.