NDM-559: EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TWO-WAY CONCRETE PANELS EXPOSED TO IMPACT LOAD

Protecting existing and new structures from potential terrorist attacks and accidents is becoming an essential consideration in the design of most structures. Building façade is the first layer exposed to external loading, thus it acts as the first line of defence against external loads. Precast concrete panels are mostly used in external building\u27s façade for modern construction, and therefore their resistance to other dynamic loads such as impact load needs further evaluation. This paper presents the results of an experimental research on two-way reinforced concrete panels as well as thin ferrocement concrete panels under impact loading. The impact test apparatus used is versatile enough to test large variety of specimens modeling façade units. The performance of the panels under impact load is evaluated in terms of: the failure mode; the maximum impact loads sustained by the panels; the number of impact loads up to failure; the maximum load transmitted to the supporting frame; and the strain induced in the panels. The effect of the different design parameters including the reinforcement amount, spacing and location across the panel thickness on the dynamic response of the panel to impact load are considered. Results clearly showed the significant effect of reinforcement on the overall resistance to impact loading. This research outcomes provide a better understanding of the performance of concrete panels under impact loading that can help enhancing structural design under such loads