Energy absorption potential of light weight concrete floors

Abstract

This paper investigates the energy absorption potential offered by light weight concrete (LWC) floors, perhaps when a building is poised to collapse from some extreme loading event. It is assumed here that the failure of LWC structural floor slabs would likely result in both break-up and pulverization of the concrete. To estimate the extent to which crushing of large portions of floor slab material would absorb energy, a series of concrete penetration tests employing patch loading was undertaken on scaled down model slabs. Six specimens had free (unconfined) edges, while the other four were confined along the edges. The test results, together with research findings obtained from the mining and milling industry, indicate that such floor systems would likely play an important role in absorbing energy during global collapse catastrophes.