Response of a new structural ultra-high performance concrete barrier wall subjected to blast loading

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a promising construction of newly developed material. In this study, a nonlinear three-dimensional hydro-code numerical simulation was carried out using autodyn-3d. In this simulation, a high explosive material (TNT) is blasted against two concrete panels. The model was first validated using experimental tests carried out by Jun Li and has shown good results. Two numerical models were carried out to investigate the effect of using ultra-high performance concrete in mitigating the effect of blast waves. The reflected overpressure and post-test damage were observed. The results showed that UHPC barrier walls performed a lot better than normal strength concrete (NSC) barrier walls in blast loading resistance. Furthermore, the damage that the concrete barrier wall experiences after the detonation decreases a lot as UHPC is used which affects the integrity of the concrete wall barrier and limits the amount of fragments ejected from the concrete barrier wall as it is one of the serious harmful effects that causes casualties among humans and structures.