Numerical Analysis of Projectile Impact on Concrete Structures Using LS-DYNA Software

Abstract

The concrete is a principal material that has been comprehensively used in the field of civil and architectural engineering including from high-rise structures to long-span bridges. Not only these typically representative buildings, but other structures and national major facilities such as nuclear power plants also have mainly adopted concrete in various ways. These concrete structures should be designed against severe accidents causing structural failure. In this regard, the structural safety of each concrete structure should be evaluated meticulously.

The primary purpose of this thesis is to suggest analytical methods to simulate the projectile impact on concrete target using the finite element software of ANSYS LS-DYNA. The analytical approach is suggested by establishing a numerical model in the software. It is used to simulate actual experiments in the past, aircraft impact experiments conducted by Sandia National Laboratories in 1988, and imaginary blade impacts on an auxiliary building in the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs).

The developed numerical analysis could reduce a huge amount of time and cost compared to actual experiments, without sacrificing accuracy. In addition, the constructed numerical model in the software predicted the test results effectively regardless of time, space, and size of the specimens. The suggested numerical methods for the projectile impact and local failure in this study are expected to be utilized in the diverse research fields on the design of national facilities or shelters and various analytical and experimental studies of projectile impact.