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LACED REINFORCED CONCRETE Conventional reinforced concrete (RC) is known to have limited ductility and concrete confinement capabilities.

These properties are especially required for structures subjected to blast and impact loading environment. The structural properties of RC can be improved by modifying the concrete matrix and by suitably detailing the reinforcements. LRC consists of continuous bent shear lacings along with longitudinal reinforcements on both faces of a structural element as shown in Fig. 1. The LRC enhances the ductility and provides better concrete confinement. Moreover, LRC technique is cost-effective compared to RC for structures that are to be designed for impulsive loading.

When a reinforced concrete element is dynamically loaded, the element deflects until such time that: (1) the strain energy of the element is developed sufficiently to balance the kinetic energy produced by the blast load and the element comes to rest, or (2) fragmentation of the concrete occurs resulting in either partial or total collapse of the element. The maximum deflection attainable is a function of the span of the element, the depth of the element, and the type, amount, and details of the reinforcement used in a particular design.
Longitudinal Reinforcement Transverse Reinforcement

Longitudinal Reinforcement

Fig. 1 Typical laced reinforced concrete structural element

Resistance-deflection curve shown in Fig. 2 demonstrates the flexural action of a reinforced concrete element. Initially, the resistance increases with the deflection until yielding of the reinforcement takes place. Since the reinforcement has become plastic, any further deflection, can therefore, occur without any further resistance, i.e., the resistance is constant with increasing deflection. Within this yield range, at a deflection corresponding to 2 support rotation, the concrete in compression crushes. For elements without shear reinforcement i.e. without confinement of concrete, this crushing of the concrete results in failure of the element. For elements with single leg stirrups or lacing, the reinforcement enters into its strain hardening region as the element further deflects. The resistance increases marginally with increasing deflection. Single leg stirrups will restrain the compression reinforcement for a short time into its strain hardening region. At 4 degrees support rotation, the element loses its structural integrity and fails. On the other hand, lacing through its truss action will restrain the reinforcement through its entire strain hardening region until tension failure of the reinforcement occurs. While the TM manual [4] suggests a plastic support rotation capacity of 12, the tests conducted at SERC [1] showed that it varied between 6 to 8. The results of the above investigations suggested a plastic hinge rotation of 4 at support and 8 at centre for continuous construction. The continuous lacings are inclined between 45 and 60 to horizontal. Thus, Fig. 2 demonstrates significance of shear resistance in enhancing the ductility of a flexure element. A sudden shear failure is obvious in the event of inadequate capacity. However, studies have shown that under cyclic loading the failure rotation is reduced and hence a 4 support rotation has been suggested for design purposes [1,2].

Failure of compression concrete

Resistance

Beginning of strain hardening

Yield

Fig. 2 Resistance-deflection curve for flexural reinforced concrete elements

DESIGN OF 75T(NEC) STORAGE STRUCTURE Donor is the storage structure where explosion takes place. Acceptor is a nearby storage structure. According to existing provisions [5], for conventional explosive storage structure, adjacent structure is to be constructed at a separation distance of 2.4W 1/3 (in metres) where W is the charge weight in kg. In this study, separation distance between two storage structures has been reduced to 0.7W1/3. For a charge weight of 75 T, in real terms the separation distance is reduced from about 101 m to 30 m. Internal dimensions of the 75T (NEC) storage structure are 9.5 m x 15 m x 3.6 m. Haunches are provided at junction of walls and wall with roof and floor slab. General arrangement of donor and acceptor storage structures is shown in Fig. 3.

No lacing

Single leg lacing

Deflection

Inclined lacing

=2 =4

=12

DONOR

ACCEPTOR

3.6 m

24 m
DONOR

15 m

15 m

ACCEPTOR

9.5 m

9.5 m

Fig. 3 General arrangement of storage structures

M25 Grade concrete and Fe415 grade reinforcement steel are used. Side walls are of 350 mm thickness and are designed as one way slab. Front and rear walls are also designed as one way slabs. Roof is designed as two way slab and is of 450 mm thickness. Percentage of main reinforcement of side walls and roof slab are 0.56% and 0.39% respectively. 12 mm diameter lacings are provided at 350 mm and 350 mm c/c in side walls and roof slabs respectively. Percentage reinforcements in secondary direction in side walls and roof slab are repectively 0.19% and 0.27%.

INSTRUMENTATION Acceptor storage structure is instrumented and pre and post trial measurements are taken. It is proposed to obtain the strain profile on the wall near to the donor (left wall) and deflection profiles of the left wall and roof slab. It is decided to paste pellets on the walls to obtain the residual strain at selected locations, where maximum strains are expected in the acceptor. Strains are measured using pfender gauges. For deflection measurements, total station is used.

Pellet arrangement On the left wall, an arrangement of pellets is proposed as shown in Fig. 4. Initially, the expected yield line pattern is marked. Pellet locations are marked with pencils at 100 mm c/c spacing. At the corners, pellet locations are marked perpendicular to the 45 line. After this, surface at pellet locations are made smoothened with emery paper (Fig. 5). Then the area is cleaned with acetone solution. Pellets are pasted with the help of CN adhesive. First pellet is pasted and allowed to set. Then, pfender gauge is used to position the next pellet in the line as shown in Fig. 5.
7.5 m 0.9 m

0.5 m 0.5 m

0.9 m

3.6 m

1.8 m 0.9 m

0.9 m 15 m

Fig. 4 Arrangement of pellets on the inner surface of left wall of acceptor Target arrangement for measurement of deflection Arrangement of targets (reflectors) on the left wall and roof are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 respectively. On the left wall, locations of targets are marked. The surface is

prepared with the help of emery paper. Then, the area is cleaned with acetone solution. Reflectors are pasted with due care for the angle of reflection to the line of sight of total station.

(a) Surface preparation

(b) Pasting of first pellet in a line

(c) Location of next pellet in the line

(d) pellets closer view

Fig. 5 Surface preparation and pasting of pellets


7500 mm 3750 mm 3750 mm

300 mm 300 mm 300 mm 300 mm 300 mm

Fig. 6 Location of targets (Reflectors) on left wall For roof slab, since angle of reflection between the total station and vertical line at reflector location is more, total station cannot trace the reflected ray. So, an

arrangement is made by pasting a steel L-angle piece at the reflector location. Reflector is pasted on the surface of L-angle which is vertical as shown in Fig. 8.

3.75 m 15 m 2.375 m 2.375 m 7.5 m 4.75 m

9.5 m

Fig. 7 Location of targets (Reflection) on the surface of Roof

Fig. 8 Arrangement for target to measure defection of roof

Alternate arrangement to obtain deflection profile Number of points where deflections are measured using reflectors along midspan of the roof is only three. An alternate arrangement for obtaining deflection at more number of points was made. Two angles are attached to the opposite walls at same height from the floor. A string is tied between the two angles. Deflection profile is obtained by measuring the distance between roof surface and string.

DATA RECORDED A precision theodolite / total station is used for measurement of deflection as shown in Fig. 9. Total station is placed inside the acceptor and initialized. Bench mark is targeted and horizontal angle was set to zero. Initial readings are noted. Then, reflectors at other places are targeted one by one and readings are recorded. Angles and distance measurements are taken before and after the trial, with respect to same reference point (bench mark).

Fig. 9 Measurements taken using total station RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE TRIAL Crater of approximately 42m in diameter and 7 m deep is formed as seen in Fig. 10. Fragments were scattered in all radial directions. Acceptor is found to be intact and serviceable after the trial as seen from Fig. 11.

Fig. 10 Crater formation

Fig. 11 Intact Acceptor after trial

Initially, expected yield line pattern is mapped on the roof slab and crack pattern as observed on the roof are mapped on the sheet as shown in Fig. 12. Cracks at the middle of the roof slab were parallel to the longer span and were extending nearly to quarter spans, after which they propagated at an angle of 45. Cracks are found to follow the expected yield line pattern.

2.375 m

15 m

0.5 m 0.5 m

Fig. 12 Mapped crack pattern on roof slab of acceptor Strain profile


4.75 Pfender gauge, the strain From the readings taken before and after the trial using m

profile of the left wall is obtained. Average strain profile of left wall is shown in Fig. 2.375 m
2.375 m

13. The estimated permanent strain values on the concrete surface of the left wall is around 420 microstrains at nearly mid-height indicating the concrete is cracked. Strain values in reinforcement, at the same location, realized during testing are estimated as 2490 microstrains.
2.5

Height from floor, m

1.5

0.5

Elastic strain - 2075 microstrain Plastic strain - 420 micro strain Total strain in reinforcement - 2490 microstrain Strain in concrete surface - 420 microstrain 0 100 200 300 400 500

0 -300 -200 -100

Strain, microstrain

Fig. 13 Average strain profile in the left wall 9

Deflection profile Deflection profile of left wall is as shown in Fig. 14. Deflection variation along short and long spans is obtained as shown in Figs. 15 and 16 respectively. Maximum permanent deflection at centre of roof is around 38 mm. Residual support rotation is calculated to be 0.46, which is much below than 4.
3

Deflected profile of left wall at midspan

2.5

1.5

0.5

0 -20 -10 0

Deflection, mm
Vertical deflection, mm
0 1 2 3 4

Span,m

5 7 8 Fig. 14 Deflection profile of left wall 6at mid span9 0 -10 -20 -30 2 -40 -50

Span,m
3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Vertical deflection, mm

0 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50

Height from floor, m

Manual Average Total Station Poly. (Average)

Fig. 15 Deflection profile of roof along short span


Manual

Distance, m
0 0 2.5 5 7.5

Average Total Station

10 12.5 Poly. (Average) Deflected profile of roof 15 along short span

Deflection, mm

-10 -20 -30 -40 -50

Deflected profile of roof along short span

Fig. 16 Deflection profile of roof along long span

CONCLUSION Reduction of separation distance between two explosive storage structures from the existing provision of 2.4W 1/3 to 0.7W 1/3 is demonstrated with the efficient use of blast
Deflection profile of roof along longer span

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resistant LRC storage structure. Details of design, instrumentation and measurement are presented. Residual surface strains on left wall are measured using pfender gauges. Deflection measurements at left wall and roof slab are taken using total station. Strain profile and deflection profiles are obtained from the trial data. Crack mapping on roof slab is carried out. In general, the acceptor storage structure has withstood the blast trial test. The structure is found to be serviceable after the blast.

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