Experimental Investigation on Performance of Plain Cement Concrete and Fiber Reinforced Concrete under Static and Blast Load Using Shocktube

The present study delineates the comparative performance of plain cement concrete (PCC) and fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) under static and blast loading conditions. Short basalt and steel fibers are used to prepare basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC), steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), and hybrid basalt–steel fiber reinforced concrete (BSFRC) with 0.5% fiber content in M50 grade concrete. The quasistatic properties of the mixes are evaluated through a uniaxial compressive strength test, splitting tensile strength test, and third point flexural test. Further, comprehensive shocktube experiments are carried out for the comparative assessment of performance of 30 and 50 mm thick PCC and FRC slabs under blast load. The dynamic response is measured using strain rosettes on the concrete surface for blast impulse in the range of 4.14–19.36 kPa-s. The improved performance of the concrete mix due to inclusion of fibers are observed in quasistatic and shocktube experiments. The improvement in ratio of tensile strength to compressive strength (ft/fc) is 21.31%, 15.75%, and 27.46% and in ratio of modulus of rupture to compressive strength (MoR/fc) is 23.81%, 19.25%, and 27.50% for BFRC, SFRC, and BSFRC respectively. The combined shear-flexural mode of failure for PCC and BSFRC slabs and flexural mode of failure for BFRC and SFRC slabs are demonstrated through the failure patterns on tensile and compressive surfaces of slabs. The performance of slabs is in the order of BSFRC>SFRC>BFRC>PCC under blast load as demonstrated through maximum strain, strain rate, and different failure modes of the concrete slabs.