Damage Evaluation of UHPC Column Subjected to Contact Explosion

Abstract:

An explosion generates a supersonic shock wave, causing a significant impact on human lives and properties. The consequences of the rising blast incidents result in massive loss of lives and economic loss due to the collapse of structures. The reinforced concrete columns, a critical structural member highly vulnerable to explosions, must be investigated. Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) shows high compressive and tensile strength, making it suitable for use in high-strain-rate loading like contact explosion. This study evaluates the damage due to contact explosion on UHPC columns with different lengths to diameters (L/D) ratios of cylindrical-shaped TNT and stirrup types using the finite element (FE) model in LS-DYNA. The model is validated with the experimental data available in the literature. The detonation and propagation of blast waves are simulated by explicitly modeling the explosive and surrounding air using a multi-material Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (MMALE) formulation. Subsequent displacement control, a quasi-static load is applied to estimate the residual load-carrying capacity. The results indicate that the utilization of UHPC effectively reduces the local damage in the column and retains higher residual capacity than normal-strength concrete (NSC). Furthermore, the L/D ratio of TNT and stirrup configuration play important roles in determining the extent of damage and the residual capacity, highlighting the need to carefully consider these factors in designing columns subjected to contact explosions.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 171)
• Pages: 117-124
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-TaiN4l
• Online since: December 2025
• Authors: Raghav Kumar Mishra*, Alagappan Ponnalagu
• Keywords: Contact Explosion, RC Column, Residual Capacity, UHPC

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