Tests to determine the influence of transverse reinforcement on perforation resistance of RC slabs under hard missile impact

An abstract of the technical paper presented at:
SMiRT-22
San Francisco, California, USA
August 18–23, 2013

Prepared by:
Nebojsa Orbovic¹ and Andrei Blahoianu²

¹Technical Specialist, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
²Director, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Abstract

This paper presents the results of three tests on reinforced concrete slabs under hard missile impact with the goal to assess the influence of transverse reinforcement on their perforation capacity. Based on tests with missile velocity below perforation velocity performed by the authors, it was expected that transverse reinforcement would improve the perforation resistance. Three slabs are tested under almost identical conditions with the only variable in transverse reinforcement. One slab was designed without transverse reinforcement, the second one with the transverse reinforcement in the form of conventional stirrups with 180 degree and 135 degree hooks on two ends respectively and the third with the transverse reinforcement in form of T-headed bars. Although the transverse reinforcement reduces the overall damage of the slabs (the rear face scabbing), the conclusion of the tests is that the transverse reinforcement does not have important influence on perforation capacity of concrete slabs under hard missile impact. However, the slab with T-headed bars presented slight improvement comparing to the baseline specimen without transverse reinforcement. The slab with conventional stirrups presented slightly lower perforation capacity (higher residual missile velocity) than the slab without transverse reinforcement. Therefore, the performed test show better performances of transverse reinforcement in form of T-headed bars than conventional stirrups with 180 degree and 135 degree hooks regarding perforation capacity under hard missile impact.

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