The effect of impact velocity and target stiffness on hard impact into thin concrete targets

Abstract

Several parameters can affect the level of damage of a concrete structure in case of hard, non-deformable missile impact. We designed and carried out a series of impact experiments of a small projectile into reinforced concrete plates to investigate the effect of such parameters. The results proved the importance of the dimensionless impact factor in case of different damage modes including penetration, perforation and scabbing. Limit values of the impact factor corresponding to different damage modes are also presented. Based on the results, a formula is developed to calculate the outcome of the impact, which can be applied in initial design phases. The experimental findings can later be applied to validate more detailed finite element models.