Dynamic loading of a reinforced cylindrical vessel by an internal detonation

Experimental and theoretical investigations have been carried out to study the dynamic behaviour of a reinforced concrete cylindrical shell. The experiments were performed on a cylindrical concrete vessel with 3 m height and 2.7 m diameter resting on six bolts. Dynamical loading was realized by wall embedded explosive charges in the upper part of the cylinder. Primary aspect was the development of explosive dismantling techniques for concrete structures at the same time delivering basic information on the dynamic response and load carrying capacity of the structure. Two different loading conditions with rotationally symmetric and non-symmetric loading around the circumference have been investigated. The time-dependant deformation of the vessel, the dynamic stresses in the reinforcing bars and the forces transferred from the support bolts to the foundation were obtained in the experiments. From these data the stiffness and structural damping of the test vessel can be estimated. Accompanying theoretical analyses have been carried through with the finite element code ABAQUS-ND. The cylindrical vessel was modelled with shell finite elements with a sophisticated material model for reinforced concrete. (author)