Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis of SHPB Tests for Concrete Materials

Abstract

Many researches focus on the effect of interfacial friction on Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) tests of concrete materials, in which SHPB is one of the most widely used techniques for determination of the dynamic stress–strain response. However, except for the interfacial friction, the stress–strain response is also affected by many other parameters, such as the errors of specimen dimensions and material parameters. In this paper, the sensitivity of these parameters is comprehensively analyzed through a series of SHPB tests and simulations. The influence of different strengths of cement mortars and different strain rates of cylindrical specimens is considered, the orthogonal experimental design method and nonprobability interval algorithm are used for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. Research results proved that the interfacial friction is the most sensitive parameter in the present test conditions, and the peak stresses measured by SHPB tests are in good agreement with the interval of uncertainty analysis. This research provides a good reference to understand the uncertain properties of concrete materials under SHPB tests.