Improving the blast resistance capacity of RC slabs with innovative composite materials

This paper examines the feasibility of using innovative composite materials to improve the blast resistance capacity of one-way reinforced concrete slabs. In order to achieve this objective, five slabs were tested under real blast loads. One of the slabs was used as the control unit to establish a baseline for comparison of the other four slabs. These four slabs were strengthened with carbon fiber and steel fiber reinforced polymers, comprising of two slabs retrofitted on a single side and two slabs retrofitted on both sides. Test results indicate that there was no significant increase in blast resistance when the slabs were retrofitted on a single side; however, slabs retrofitted on both sides displayed a significant increase in blast resistance. This result can be attributed to the negative moments that develop under the dynamics of blast loads. Another objective of this research program was to study the feasibility of using a modified displacement based methodology to predict the explosive charges weight and standoff distances required to impose a given damage level. Test results showed that for the most part the blast loads were effectively estimated using this method and the damage levels observed from the field tests correlated well with the predicted levels. This paper discusses the analytical steps used to predict the charges weight and standoff distances along with the relevant experimental results.