Dynamic fragmentation of an ultrahigh-strength concrete during edge-on impact tests

To understand and model damage generated during impact by a penetrator of ultrahigh strength concrete targets, edge-on impact tests are performed with Ductal concrete, which is unreinforced or reinforced with short fibers. Two edge-on impact configurations are designed with a dynamic confinement system. The first configuration uses aluminum projectiles and allows us to study the dynamic fragmentation that spreads out within the tile without any confined damage close to the impact point. The fragmentation process is composed of numerous oriented millimetric cracks. In the second configuration, steel projectiles are used with a higher impact velocity. Damaged zones are visualized by using an ultrahigh speed camera and a sarcophagus configuration designed to prevent the fragments from moving. Postmortem studies of impacted tiles enabled us to observe an intense fragmentation of the targets and confined damage close to the impact point when steel projectiles were used. Simulations are performed with an anisotropic damage model coupled with a concrete plasticity model. Orientation and crack density are compared with postmortem observations.