EFFECT OF WALL GEOMETRY AND RUBBER INCLUSION ON THE BLAST PERFORMANCE OF STRUCTURAL CONCRETE BARRIERS

Abstract

This study presents an advanced nonlinear numerical analysis using ABAQUS to assess the blast resistance of curved rubber-reinforced concrete (RRC) barrier walls. Four types of concrete, normal concrete (NC), and rubberized concretes with 10%, 30%, and 50% rubber particle volume fractions (RC10, RC30, RC50) were modeled and evaluated under blast loading conditions. The numerical approach was validated using a 3D hydro code model, followed by calibration against established experimental benchmarks. The study also examined the influence of wall curvature on blast performance using three curvature angles: 0°, 23°, and 48°. Results demonstrated a clear improvement in blast mitigation with increased curvature. For NC slabs, the peak pressure was reduced from 60.05 MPa (flat) to 50.05 MPa at 48° curvatures. Similar trends were observed for rubberized concretes, with RC30 showing the highest-pressure reduction of 30% at 48°. The curved configurations facilitated more efficient stress redistribution and reduced penetration depth, although high curvature led to localized stress concentrations at slab edges, suggesting the need for targeted reinforcement. Overall, the 48° curved RRC wall configuration provided the most effective blast resistance, regardless of material composition. These findings highlight the advantages of combining geometry optimization and rubber inclusion to enhance the structural performance of protective concrete barriers against explosive loads.