Blast simulations of a reinforced concrete slab using the continuous surface cap model (CSCM)

Abstract

The continuous surface cap model (CSCM) is effective for analyzing the responses of concrete to blast loading, but its application process is often not thoroughly explained. This study details the process of conducting blast simulations on a reinforced concrete (RC) slab using the CSCM, highlighting the careful optimization of the fracture energy and damping for the concrete material model. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the simulations by comparing their predictions of midspan deflections with field blast test results in literature, considering three different TNT charges, all of which show good agreement. Using the optimized numerical model, we investigate the sequential damage propagation of the RC slab over time, revealing its microscopic failure responses. Our detailed descriptions of the blast simulations can be usefully applied to investigate the blast responses of various structures.