Probabilistic study of premature shear failure of slender reinforced concrete one-way slabs subjected to blast loading
Journal article, 2025

Blast-loaded reinforced concrete (RC) slabs should fail under a ductile bending mechanism enabling high energy absorption capacity. Hence, brittle shear failure must be avoided. However, due to the uncertainties related to the materials, geometry, and resistance models, it may be difficult to predict which failure mode will prevail. This study analytically estimated the probability of premature flexural shear failure of slender RC one-way slabs subjected to blast loading considering such uncertainties and using the Monte Carlo (MC) method. The resistance models in Eurocode 2 were adopted. Specimens with and without shear reinforcement were analyzed. Bending failure was shown to be the most likely failure mode in the studied slabs. However, the probability of shear failure developing before bending failure was still relatively high, particularly for slabs without stirrups. To increase the confidence level concerning the preferred failure mechanism, the article proposes an overstrength factor to magnify the shear demand of the blast-loaded RC slab. Values of the overstrength factor for different target reliability levels were calculated. The study also found that the probability of premature shear failure increased with increasing amount of longitudinal reinforcement and decreasing slenderness. Likewise, greater impulse was found to enhance the risk for shear failure.

model uncertainty

reinforced concrete slabs

blast loading

Monte Carlo method

premature shear failure

Author

Fabio José Lozano Mendoza

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Morgan Johansson

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Norconsult AB

Joosef Leppänen

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Mario Plos

Swedish Transport Administration

Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering

2095-2430 (ISSN) 2095-2449 (eISSN)

Vol. 19 8 1334-1354

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Swedish Transport Administration (TRV 2020/36543), 2020-09-01 -- 2023-08-31.

Swedish Fortifications Agency (3978/2013), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Explosioner i en förtätad stadsmiljö. fortsättning och slutfas - etapp 2

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB 2020-10130-3), 2024-01-01 -- 2025-12-31.

Swedish Fortifications Agency (3978/2013-38), 2024-01-01 -- 2025-12-31.

Swedish Transport Administration (TRV2020/36543), 2024-01-01 -- 2025-12-31.

Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)

Civil Engineering

DOI

10.1007/s11709-025-1205-4

More information

Latest update

9/20/2025