The following is an excerpt.

One of this spring´s MSc projects is «Projectile impact on plain and reinforced concrete slabs». 

The aim is to determine how concrete plates behave under impact loading and to validate existing computational methods. Concrete is a material frequently found in protective structures, especially when weight and space limitations are not present. This makes concrete of particular interest in fortification installations for defence purposes. MSc Candidates Vetle Solheim Gjesdal (right) and Øystein Eirik Kvist Jacobsen perform experimental and numerical studies on the perforation resistance of plain and reinforced concrete slabs impacted by ogive-nose steel projectiles.

In January, concrete plates of 100 mm thickness and appurtenant material specimens were cast in C75 and stored for curing.

Next, they impacted the slabs by projectiles in SIMLab’s ballistic range to reveal their ballistic capacity. In these tests, the effect of rebars on the perforation resistance is of particular interest. All component tests combine relevant material tests instrumented with Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The material test data will be used to calibrate proper concrete material models. Finally, numerical simulations of the component tests will be carried out using a finite element solver. The data generated will be used to validate and verify some frequently used numerical methods involving impact loading of concrete structures.
The project is a collaboration with CASA-partner, the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency (NDEA). The student´s supervisors are Professor Tore Børvik and Researcher Martin Kristoffersen. NDEA-researchers Sumita Dey and Oda L. Toreskås are co-supervisors.

 

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