Performance of Cellular Concrete under Low-Velocity Impact and Penetration

Cellular concrete, also known as foamed concrete, has been widely used in different geotechnical and nonstructural applications owing to a unique geometric nature that results in low density and high flowability and its low construction cost. The behavior of cellular concrete under impact or penetration has also drawn attention in applications such as engineered material arrestor systems, emergency escape ramps, and crash barriers. The high void content inside cellular concrete allows it to undertake large deformation, which could lead to high energy absorption. However, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding of the energy absorption of the material and response of the material under impact or penetration. This paper carries out an investigation of the response of cellular concrete subjected to low-velocity impact and penetration. Cellular concretes with different foaming agents and with fibers were prepared and evaluated. Experimental results demonstrated the superior ability of cellular concrete in absorbing and dissipating impact and penetration energies compared with conventional concrete. The paper shows that through steadily deforming the internal void structure, cellular concrete can diminish the reaction force caused by a collision and dissipate penetration energy. Results of the study can help to better understand the mechanism of energy absorption of cellular concrete so as to better tailor it for different applications.