Chapter 11
Experimental and Numerical Study
of UHPCC-FST Columns Subjected
to Close-Range Explosion
11.1 Introduction
From 1970 to 2017, there have been more than 180,000 terrorist attacks occurred
around the world, including more than 88,000 bombings, 19,000 assassinations, and
11,000 kidnappings (Global Terrorism Database 2018). It is obvious that the bomb
attack is the most common terrorist action. Besides, the public infrastructures have
becoming the main attack targets by terrorists in recent years (Li et al. 2018). As
one of the important public infrastructures, the bridges, especially the landmark and
memorable ones are prone to be vulnerable to terrorist bomb attacks. Bridge columns
are the main load-bearing members of bridges, of which the blast-resistance of which
has great significance to study.
The exiting works are mainly concentrated on the dynamic responses of normal
reinforced concrete (RC) building or bridge columns under explosions (Kyei and
Braimah 2017; Shi et al. 2018; Wu et al. 2011; Li et al. 2017; Zong et al. 2017;
Williamson et al. 2010, 2011a, b). Taking the bridge columns for instance, Zong
et al. (Zong et al. 2017) performed the contact and non-contact explosion (0.5 ≤ Z≤
2.56 m/kg
1/3 , Z = a/W
1/3 is the scaled standoff distance, a is the standoff distance
from the center of the explosive to the surface of structure, W is the charge weight)
test on eleven bridge column specimens. It was derived that the blast-resistance
capacity of RC columns is enhanced by increasing the sectional area and employing
the square section, spiral stirrup and steel fiber reinforced concrete. Supported by
the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Williamson et al.
(2010, 2011a, b) conducted a systematic research to investigate the blast-resistance
capacity of bridge columns, and it was observed that the concrete cover is easily
cracked and spalled under blast loadings. Obviously, those failures have negative
effect on the blast performance of the column.
In recent years, the concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) column has attracted lots of
attentions due to its excellent strength, ductility as well as the fatigue, high temperature and impact resistance (Morino et al. 2001). As for the studies of CFST members
under blast, Fujikura et al. (2008) conducted a blast test (scaled standoff distance is
© Science Press 2021
Q. Fang et al., UHPCC Under Impact and Blast,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6842-2_11
369
Experimental and Numerical Study
of UHPCC-FST Columns Subjected
to Close-Range Explosion
11.1 Introduction
From 1970 to 2017, there have been more than 180,000 terrorist attacks occurred
around the world, including more than 88,000 bombings, 19,000 assassinations, and
11,000 kidnappings (Global Terrorism Database 2018). It is obvious that the bomb
attack is the most common terrorist action. Besides, the public infrastructures have
becoming the main attack targets by terrorists in recent years (Li et al. 2018). As
one of the important public infrastructures, the bridges, especially the landmark and
memorable ones are prone to be vulnerable to terrorist bomb attacks. Bridge columns
are the main load-bearing members of bridges, of which the blast-resistance of which
has great significance to study.
The exiting works are mainly concentrated on the dynamic responses of normal
reinforced concrete (RC) building or bridge columns under explosions (Kyei and
Braimah 2017; Shi et al. 2018; Wu et al. 2011; Li et al. 2017; Zong et al. 2017;
Williamson et al. 2010, 2011a, b). Taking the bridge columns for instance, Zong
et al. (Zong et al. 2017) performed the contact and non-contact explosion (0.5 ≤ Z≤
2.56 m/kg
1/3 , Z = a/W
1/3 is the scaled standoff distance, a is the standoff distance
from the center of the explosive to the surface of structure, W is the charge weight)
test on eleven bridge column specimens. It was derived that the blast-resistance
capacity of RC columns is enhanced by increasing the sectional area and employing
the square section, spiral stirrup and steel fiber reinforced concrete. Supported by
the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Williamson et al.
(2010, 2011a, b) conducted a systematic research to investigate the blast-resistance
capacity of bridge columns, and it was observed that the concrete cover is easily
cracked and spalled under blast loadings. Obviously, those failures have negative
effect on the blast performance of the column.
In recent years, the concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) column has attracted lots of
attentions due to its excellent strength, ductility as well as the fatigue, high temperature and impact resistance (Morino et al. 2001). As for the studies of CFST members
under blast, Fujikura et al. (2008) conducted a blast test (scaled standoff distance is
© Science Press 2021
Q. Fang et al., UHPCC Under Impact and Blast,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6842-2_11
369