Modification of SDOF model for reinforced concrete beams under close-in explosion

In this paper, a modified single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model of reinforced concrete (RC) beams under close-in explosion is proposed by developing the specific impulse equivalent method and flexural resistance calculation method. The equivalent uniform specific impulse was obtained based on the local conservation of momentum and global conservation of kinetic energy. Additionally, the influence of load uniformity, boundary condition and complex material behaviors (e.g. strain rate effect, hardening/softening and hoop-confined effect) was considered in the resistance calculation process by establishing a novel relationship between external force, bending moment, curvature and deflection successively. The accuracy of the proposed model was verified by carrying out field explosion tests on four RC beams with the scaled distances of 0.5 m/kg^1/3 and 0.75 m/kg^1/3. The test data in other literatures were also used for validation. As a result, the equivalent load implies that the blast load near the mid-span of beams would contribute more to the maximum displacement, which was also observed in the tests. Moreover, both the resistance model and test results declare that when the blast load becomes more concentrated, the ultimate resistance would become lower, and the compressive concrete would be more prone to softening and crushing. Finally, based on the modified SDOF model, the calculated maximum displacements agreed well with the test data in this paper and other literatures. This work fully proves the rationality of the modified SDOF method, which will contribute to a more accurate damage assessment of RC structures under close-in explosion.