Modern day structures are reaching higher, spanning longer and undergoing new design methods. In addition to regular loads, it is becoming increasingly important to consider the potential risks of intentional and accidental explosions on structures. In the case of reinforced concrete buildings, critical elements such as beams and columns must de designed with sufficient strength and ductility to mitigate against the effects of blast loads to safekeep the public and prevent progressive structural collapse. Recent advancements in structural materials have led to the development of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with high compressive strength, tensile resistance, toughness and energy absorption capacity, properties which are ideal for blast protection of structures. Combining UHPC with high-performance steels, such as and high strength reinforcement is another potential solution to enhance the blast resilience of structures. This experimental and analytical research program investigates the advantages of combining high performance materials to increase the blast capacity of reinforced concrete beams. The experimental program includes tests on 21 beam specimens, fourteen of which are subjected to extreme blast loading using the University of Ottawa shock-tube, with seven companion specimens tested statically. Parameters investigated include: effect of concrete type (NSC vs. UHPC), effect of steel reinforcement type (NSR vs. HSR), effect of longitudinal reinforcement ratio, effect of fiber type/content and effect of transverse reinforcement on structural performance under static and dynamic loads. The experimental study includes three series having specified material combinations as follows: series 1 (NSC & NSR), series 2 (UHPC & NSR) and series 3 (UHPC & HSR). Each dynamically tested beam specimen is subjected to gradually increasing blast shockwaves until reaching failure. Performance assessment criteria included; maximum and residual displacements, overall blast resistance and resistance to secondary fragmentation. Results show that the specimens detailed with UHPC can resist greater blast loads with reduced mid-span displacement and debris generation when compared to beams built with conventional concrete. The combination of UHPC and high strength reinforcement further enhances blast performance and delays failure as both high strength materials balance themselves for optimum efficiency. Similarly, for specimens subjected to static loading, the use of UHPC increased the maximum load resisted by the beams, although failure mode alters from concrete crushing to rebar rupture. The combination of UHPC and high strength reinforcement further heightens beam resistance, at the expense of reduced specimen ductility. The analytical component of this thesis presents an analysis program called UO Resistance which is capable of predicting structural element resistance curves and conducting a dynamic inelastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) analysis of members subjected to blast loads. Resistance curves generated using UO Resistance were compared to data obtained through static testing and were found to effectively predict specimen response. Similarly, dynamic analysis methods implemented in UO Resistance prove to be effective at predicting specimen response under blast load. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of various modeling parameters on the static and SDOF dynamic predictions of specimen response.

The single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) transformation factors as tabulated in John Biggs’ textbook (Biggs 1964) are accepted as the equivalent factors for simplifying and analyzing a component's response to blast. The study validates the stiffness and mass transformation factors through multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) numerical methods. After validating the transformation factors, the MDOF numerical method is used to create new stiffness and mass transformation factors for loading cases not already included in Biggs’ textbook. The validated factors, as well as the newly developed factors are used in SDOF analyses. The deflections from the SDOF responses accurately predict the MDOF responses as long as the component behaves elastically; however, the deflections diverge when inelastic behavior is involved. The diverged deflections indicate that the SDOF inelastic response analysis method can be improved.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge piers, RC columns along exterior of buildings or those located in parking garages are designed to support large compressive axial loads but are vulnerable to transverse out-of-plane loadings, such as those arising from impacts or explosions. To address a lack of understanding regarding blast and impact response of RC members and the need for retrofit techniques to address deficiencies in existing structures, a multi-disciplinary team including various institutes of the National Research Council and the University of Ottawa has initiated work towards developing a fibre reinforced polymer composite protection system for RC columns subjected to extreme shocks. This thesis will focus on the impact program of the aforementioned project. An extensive literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of: impact loading and associated dynamic effects; experimental testing of RC members subjected to impact; experimental testing of axially loaded members; and retrofit methods for the protection of RC under impact loading. Five half-scale RC columns were constructed and tested using a drop-weight impact machine and two additional specimens were tested under static loading. Deflections, strain distributions within the columns, impact loads and reaction loads were measured during the testing of the built RC members. Comparisons of experimental datum were established between members with differing levels of axial load and between a retrofitted and a non-retrofitted member. Single-degree-of-freedom analysis was used to obtain the predicted response of certain columns under impact loading allowing for comparisons with experimental data.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge piers, RC columns along exterior of buildings or those located in parking garages are designed to support large compressive axial loads but are vulnerable to transverse out-of-plane loadings, such as those arising from impacts or explosions. To address a lack of understanding regarding blast and impact response of RC members and the need for retrofit techniques to address deficiencies in existing structures, a multi-disciplinary team including various institutes of the National Research Council and the University of Ottawa has initiated work towards developing a fibre reinforced polymer composite protection system for RC columns subjected to extreme shocks. This thesis will focus on the impact program of the aforementioned project. An extensive literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of: impact loading and associated dynamic effects; experimental testing of RC members subjected to impact; experimental testing of axially loaded members; and retrofit methods for the protection of RC under impact loading. Five half-scale RC columns were constructed and tested using a drop-weight impact machine and two additional specimens were tested under static loading. Deflections, strain distributions within the columns, impact loads and reaction loads were measured during the testing of the built RC members. Comparisons of experimental datum were established between members with differing levels of axial load and between a retrofitted and a non-retrofitted member. Single-degree-of-freedom analysis was used to obtain the predicted response of certain columns under impact loading allowing for comparisons with experimental data.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge piers, RC columns along exterior of buildings or those located in parking garages are designed to support large compressive axial loads but are vulnerable to transverse out-of-plane loadings, such as those arising from impacts or explosions. To address a lack of understanding regarding blast and impact response of RC members and the need for retrofit techniques to address deficiencies in existing structures, a multi-disciplinary team including various institutes of the National Research Council and the University of Ottawa has initiated work towards developing a fibre reinforced polymer composite protection system for RC columns subjected to extreme shocks. This thesis will focus on the impact program of the aforementioned project. An extensive literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of: impact loading and associated dynamic effects; experimental testing of RC members subjected to impact; experimental testing of axially loaded members; and retrofit methods for the protection of RC under impact loading. Five half-scale RC columns were constructed and tested using a drop-weight impact machine and two additional specimens were tested under static loading. Deflections, strain distributions within the columns, impact loads and reaction loads were measured during the testing of the built RC members. Comparisons of experimental datum were established between members with differing levels of axial load and between a retrofitted and a non-retrofitted member. Single-degree-of-freedom analysis was used to obtain the predicted response of certain columns under impact loading allowing for comparisons with experimental data.

I detta examensarbete undersöks hur ett gantrysystem konstruerat i stål påverkas hållfasthets- och vibrationsmässigt av en längre räckvidd, samt hur en lösning skulle kunna konstrueras i ett alternativt material för ovanstående goda egenskaper. Arbetet är utfört på ett företag, vilket är världsledande inom tillverkning av industrirobotar samt el- och servomotorer. Gantrysystemet är ett system som har i uppgift att förlänga en svetsrobots arbetsområde i upp till tre dimensioner. Svetsroboten monteras på gantrysystemets ena axel och kan med dess hjälp förflyttas och arbeta kring svetsobjektet. Gantrysystemet har idag en begränsad räckvidd som önskas förlängas med 1m i ena riktningen, kallad x-riktningen. Balken som önskas förlängas kallas för x-balken. Dagens konstruktion har problem med vibrationer som uppstår under drift, vilka främst uppkommer vid hastiga inbromsningar. Vibrationerna medför väntetider för svetsroboten, då vibrationerna måste dämpas ut så att svetsroboten är i stabilt tillstånd då den fortsätter att svetsa. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att ge gantrysystemet en ökad prestanda genom att möjliggöra ett större arbetsområde för svetsroboten och alternativt i framtiden en högre transporthastighet. Dagens gantrysystem är en stålkonstruktion men önskas kunna konstrueras i ett alternativt material för att bredda konstruktions- och designmöjligheterna. För att besvara examensarbetets problemformulering har statiska FEM-analyser och frekvensanalyser utförts i Solidworks, samt enklare modellering i form av Single Degree of freedom system. Kompositmaterial har studerats som alternativt material, då materialtypen var ett önskemål från företagets sida samt utefter undersökningar har ansetts som lämpligt för sitt ändamål. Två kompositkoncept har resulterats, vilka har använts för att besvara problemformuleringen. Slutsatser från arbetet är att en förlängd x-balk i stål förvärrar vibrationsproblemen i olika grad beroende på studerat system medan hållfastheten inte försämras i någon större skala. En kompositbalk anses ha potential att uppnå hög hållfasthet och god vibrationsdämpning. Dock har inte kompositkoncepten visat sig vara lika styva som stålbalkarna och därmed har inte en förbättring av vibrationsmotståndet kunnat säkerhetsställas genom metoderna använda i detta arbete. Författaren av detta examensarbete rekommenderar därmed att läsaren ser detta arbete som en förundersökning och förordar i och med det vidare utveckling med slutsatserna från detta examensarbete som grund.

Recent interest in sustainable design has resulted in timber products being considered for a variety of construction projects. This has especially been the case for engineered wood products (EWPs), such as glue-laminated timber (glulam) and cross-laminated timber (CLT). Research into the performance of these massive timber products has been ongoing, where the methodology employed has generally favoured experimental approaches on undamaged members, combined with simplified analytical methods. Relatively little attention has been given to more sophisticated numerical methodologies and to the effects of repeated loadings on the same specimen. This study intends to contribute to the literature by investigating the viability of full-scale finite element models to simulate the behaviour of timber elements at high strain rates and proposing a generalized structure for dynamic models that is capable of adequately recreating realistic failure modes. Three glulam specimens and three CLT specimens were subjected to simulated blast loads under four-point bending with simply supported boundary conditions using the University of Ottawa Shock Tube Test Facility. The behaviour of the glulam specimens during the dynamic testing was consistently linear-elastic until flexural failure was reached. Conversely, the failure behaviour of CLT panels was more complex and included flexural failure, rolling shear failure, or a combined behaviour where both modes developed simultaneously. Single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and finite element analysis (FEA) methodologies were used to predict the behaviour in terms of displacement-time histories and failure modes. The inputs for the analytical methods relied on values sourced from literature or manufacturer data. A finite element (FE) material model was implemented into ABAQUS/Explicit through a dynamic user subroutine (VUMAT). The model used continuum damage mechanics to alter the material stiffness matrix once the elastic strengths were exceeded. SDOF analysis was shown to effectively predict the maximum mid-span displacement of glulam members subjected to blast loads, within a 20% error margin. However, the model was found to be incapable of consistently predicting the displacement and time of failure, especially for CLT panels, where up to 50% error was observed. This degree of error was attributed to the model’s inability to account for multiple failure modes, namely rolling shear and flexural failure. The resistance curves implemented in the SDOF models generally agreed with experimental results, particularly with regard to initial stiffness, and were deemed sufficiently accurate from the perspective of design. The finite element models simulated specimen ultimate behaviour reasonably well. Relatively accurate analytical predictions were also obtained for both maximum mid-span displacements and corresponding times. However, computational issues with damage transfer prevented the modeling of repeated tests on CLT panels. The FE model was capable of producing resistance-displacement relationships which correlated well to experimental results, despite the presence of numerical fluctuations. This is a significant outcome for the potential application of FEA to blast behaviour of timber components, since SDOF models require resistance curves as input and are unable to predict the force-displacement response of members.

No description available.

Underground coal mine explosions pose a significant threat to infrastructure such as mine seals and refuge alternative chambers. After a mine seal failed in the Sago mine disaster, which took the life of 12 miners, design requirements were reexamined and improved. However, most research being completed on the analysis of mine structures during an explosive event focuses solely on peak pressure values, while ignoring the impact of pressure duration. This study investigates the impact pressure duration, waveform shape, and impulse have on structural displacement, while also exploring what pressures and duration can be expected during a mine explosion. Additionally, the use of high explosives to simulation conditions experienced during a mine explosion is examined. Results from this study are produced through experimental testing using a scaled shock tube and theoretical studies using finite element analysis.

After September 11, 2001, government officials and the engineering community have devoted significant time and resources to protect the country from such attacks again. Because highway infrastructure plays such a critical role in the public’s daily life, research has been conducted to determine the resiliency of various bridge components subjected to blast loads. While more tests are needed, it is now time to transfer the research into tools to be used by the design community. The development of Anti-Terrorism Planner for Bridges (ATP-Bridge), a program intended to be used by bridge engineers and planners to investigate blast loads against bridges, is explained in this thesis. The overall project goal was to build a program that can incorporate multiple bridge components while still maintaining a simple, user-friendly interface. This goal was achieved by balancing three core areas: constraining the graphical user interface (GUI) to similar themes across the program, allowing flexibility in the creation of the numerical models, and designing the data structures using object-oriented programming concepts to connect the GUI with the numerical models. An example of a solver (prestressed girder with advanced SDOF analysis model) is also presented to illustrate a fast-running algorithm. The SDOF model incorporates the development of a moment-curvature response curve created by a layer-by-layer analysis, a non-linear static analysis accounting for both geometric non-linearity as well as material non-linearity, and a Newmark-beta-based SDOF analysis. The results of the model return the dynamic response history and the amount of damage. ATP-Bridge is the first software developed that incorporates multiple bridge components into one user-friendly engineering tool for protecting bridge structures against terrorist threats. The software is intended to serve as a synthesis of state-of-the-art knowledge, with future updates made to the program as more research becomes available. In contrast to physical testing and high-fidelity finite element simulations, ATP-Bridge uses less time-consuming, more cost effective numerical models to generate dynamic response data and damage estimates. With this tool, engineers and planners will be able to safeguard the nation’s bridge inventory and, in turn, reinforce the public’s trust. / text