Damage modelling of lightweight high-strength concrete under impact

Abstract

Within the framework of continuum damage mechanics, a new strain-rate-dependent damage model is developed for lightweight high-strength concrete (LWHSC). The damage model is implemented as a material subroutine to established finite element software for numerical analysis. The numerical models are substantiated by a comprehensive experimental investigation programme involving both static and impact tests on different types of LWHSC. Existing experimental results for normal-weight concrete (NWC) under various loading conditions are also used to verify the proposed model. Comparison of numerical and experimental results indicates that the proposed damage model captures well the constitutive relation of LWHSC as well as NWC under both static and dynamic loading conditions.