Year
2010
File Attachment
Abstract
In this paper a comprehensive material testing program is described to characterize a German final repository concrete material (BERB1) subjected to static and dynamic loads. The BERB1 material was developed und specified by the German Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) for targets used for drop tests according to the KONRAD requirements. The testing consists of three concurrent laboratory experimental programs performed in the USA. An extensive preliminary testing program in Germany was performed to assure the required concrete specifications during fabrication and curing. The first set of data is the static basic material test program consisting of structural tests to quantify macroscopic concrete properties under quasi-static loads. Cubic and cylindrical specimens are investigated under this effort. The second set of test data is from the static complete material test program, where cylindrical concrete specimens are subjected to a variety of quasi-static axial and radial stress and strain paths using a high-pressure hydraulic tri-axial chamber. The material is characterized for confining pressures up to 400 MPa. The third set of data is from the dynamic complete material test program, which uses a modified Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar to induce dynamic compression and tension waves into cylindrical concrete specimens that generate strain-rates up to 400 s -1 . The ensemble of data generated in these experiments provides a complete set of data that effectively describes the behavior of this concrete and can be used to develop a constitutive calculation model. In addition, the results of the tests show a significant effect of moisture on the strength and rheology of this concrete for quasi-static pressures greater than 50 MPa. Numerical drop test simulations with the developed constitutive model in the Lagrangian finite element code, LS-DYNA, show good agreement with the experimental results from a BAM research project.