Behavior of structural concrete slabs under localized impact

The objective of this thesis is the assessment of the behavior of structural concrete slabs under localized impact requires tools that can be used to analyze and design structural element, especially under the effects of short duration dynamic loads such as blast or impact. This study was carried out with a numerical approach and precision impact tests to investigate the behavioral response of concrete slabs under localized impact. An iterative pre-test numerical analysis was implemented to determine the parameters necessary for a precision impact test. The precision impact tests were performed, and the results correlated with the impact simulated data, thereby attempting the validation of the numerical code ABAQUS/Explicit for the impact events. The numerical simulations were three-dimensional, solved explicitly, and included an impact weight, reinforced concrete slab, and steel supporting frame.; In the experiments' approach, the effects of different types of slab reinforcements and the applied impact loads on the behavior and dynamic response of reinforced concrete slabs were investigated.; Three different types of reinforcements for 3-1/2&inches; x 5 ′ x 11′ slab were tested, as follows: First; using two 6&inches; x 6&inches; meshes of welded steel wires located under one inch of concrete cover on both faces of the slab; second, with one 6&inches; x 6&inches; mesh of No. 3 steel bars located at the middle of the slab thickness; and third, with two 6&inches; x 6&inches; meshes of No. 3 steel bars located under one inch concrete cover on both faces of the slab. The drop heights of the impact weight were 6&inches;, 12&inches;, and 24&inches;, respectively. The observations, findings and concerns of the structural behavior of reinforced concrete slabs, and a discussion of the parametric study, are presented.