Ballistic impact on concrete plates with compressive strengths of C35, C75 and C110

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis has been to assess the behavior of concrete plates subjected to ballistic impact from ogival steel projectiles. The experiments were run at the Structural Impact Laboratory (SIMLab) at NTNU, where high-velocity projectiles were fired at concrete plates with compressive strengths of C35, C75 and C110. The Recht-Ipson model and the CEA-EDF perforation limit formula were used and compared with the experimental results. The results showed that the ballistic limit velocity increased by about 16% from concrete C35 to C110.

Evaluation of existing numerical simulations showed that it is possible to predict the residual velocity of the projectiles from the ballistic impact test by using the original HJC model, the modified HJC model and the JH-2 model. These material models can provide adequate results compared to the experimental results.

Investigation of ethical issues related to the experimental work showed that civilian research projects with interest to the military may cause several ethical issues. Refraining from the research is probably the only way of avoiding any possibility of military applications. Since the issues are complicated, it is not possible to make a statement of what is and is not ethical.