Impact propagation effects along reinforced concrete beams

Paper in proceeding, 2019

© 2019 IABSE. All rights reserved. This paper studies the time-dependent structural behaviour of concrete beams subjected to impact loading. Drop-weight tests have been carried out in 1180 x 100 x 100 mm longitudinally reinforced concrete beams. Experimental results have been obtained by combing a high speed camera with two-dimensional digital image correlation. The analysis focused on the dynamic internal forces distribution and wave propagation. Flexural moments and, especially, shear forces were greater than their static strengths, confirming the strain-rate dependence of both failure mechanisms and clarifying the sensitivity of concrete to develop brittle failure. Wave propagation analysis showed a variable velocity, decreasing as the slenderness of the effective span increased.