Analytical and Numerical Study of Response of RC Beam under Falling Debris Impact

The dynamic response of RC structures under falling debris impacts is crucial for evaluating their capacity to withstand progressive collapse. However, predicting the energy transfer between debris and concrete elements presents significant challenges. The impact loading is determined by the kinetic energy transferred from the falling debris, which varies with impact conditions. This research investigates the dynamic response and energy transfer characteristics of concrete beams subjected to low-velocity impacts through measuring velocity before and after the impact. The study models a scenario where a smaller beam, acting as the impactor, falls freely onto a stationary larger beam using LS-DYNA. A comparative analysis assesses the accuracy of these methods in predicting the coefficient of restitution, ranging from fully plastic to fully rigid. Key findings from the finite element (FE) analysis reveal that impact energy is directly proportional to the beam’s mass, impact speed, and length of impactor.