Reinforced Concrete Beams Subjected to Repeated Drop Weight Impact and Static Load
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Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Model builders
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Abstract
When it comes to the structural response of reinforcement concrete beams (RC-beams)
subjected to impulse loading, a high energy absorption and large plastic deformation
capacity is of interest and not necessarily the load capacity that is of interest like it is
for statically loaded structures. The aim of this thesis is to deepen the knowledge of the
structural response of RC-beams subjected to single and repeated loading. The RC beams were subjected to single and repeated loading with different drop-weights of 10,
20 and 40 kg from a height of 5 meter. The beams also had different reinforcement
diameters of 6, 8 and 10 mm to test how it affects the structural response. The
dynamically tested beams were also tested statically to determine the residual capacity.
These were then compared to undamaged RC-beams that were statically tested to
evaluate any dissimilarities.
A literature study was conducted to understand the structural response of the reinforced
concrete beams. The study contained load capacity, plastic rotation capacity, internal
work, and deflection of the reinforced concrete beams. The experiments on the beams
were performed at Chalmers Laboratory, where the response of the RC-beams was
captured with a high-speed camera and analysed with Digital Image Correlation (DIC)
both statically and dynamically. Afterwards, the plastic rotation capacity and internal
work was determined and compared to the predicted response.
When the beams were subjected to repeated impulse loading, major damage and
localized spalling occurred. The excessive damage and spalling made the capturing of
the beams using DIC incredibly difficult and it was difficult to compare to hand
calculations. The experimental results showed good correlations to the predicted
response. However, there were some deviations in some instances, it is difficult to
compare and calculate when the RC-beams were subjected to multiple impacts,
although it worked well for a singular impact.
Description
Keywords
Reinforced concrete beams, drop-weight impact, repeated impact loading, 2DOF, internal work, plastic deformation, load capacity, plastic rotation capacity, impact loading, static loading, Digital Image Correlation, DIC