Applications of a coupled multi-solver approach in evaluating damage of reinforced concrete walls from shock and impact

Sabotage from terrorist actions threatens the safety of nuclear power plants and materials. Physical barriers, usually made of steel reinforced concrete must be constructed around areas to be protected and must have adequate structural strength to prevent failure from terrorist threats. Two hypothetical terrorist threats are considered in the present paper: blast from the detonation of a truck bomb and impact from a Boeing 747 passenger jet. To simulate damage and failure of a thick steel reinforced concrete wall under such blast and impact loadings, a Coupled Multi-Solver approach based upon finite element and finite volume methods is applied. The three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed with the nonlinear dynamic analysis computer program AUTODYN. The damage developed in the reinforced concrete walls from these threats is investigated and the most successful use of physical barriers is discussed. (authors)