Title:
Open-Air Blast Testing of Large Prestressed Concrete Slabs
Author(s):
Jason Florek
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/15/2018
Abstract:
A blast testing program on pre-stressed, concrete slabs was established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), in conjunction with ACI 349 (Nuclear Safety Related Structures), to assist in defining design acceptance criteria for pre-stressed concrete elements for nuclear structures. This presentation summarizes the results of six open-air blast tests performed on 16-foot by 16-foot by 10 5/8-inch pre-stressed concrete slabs with three different combinations of reinforcement and pre-stressing. The level of pre-stressing for all slabs (either 725 psi or 1450 psi) was introduced using post tensioning with grouted tendons. The explosive charge size and standoff were defined to obtain different target levels of support rotations for each slab design. The test results indicate that pre-stressing level may only have a marginal effect on slab flexural response to blast loading and that the actual blast loading response limits would fall between the currently published limits for pre-stressed concrete and conventionally reinforced concrete elements.