Ultra-high performance concrete targets against high velocity projectile impact - a-state-of-the-art review

Known for its high mechanical strength and ductility, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) emerges as a promising material in civil and military constructions to resist hazardous loads such as high velocity projectile impact (HVPI). Due to its unique material properties, structures built with UHPC perform differently to its counterparts made of conventional concrete under HVPI, and thus the empirical and semi-empirical resistant functions for conventional concrete against HVPI require careful evaluation before application to UHPC struc-tures. This study presents a comprehensive review of the research advances in thick UHPC targets to resist HVPI for projectiles at normal incidence. First, the static and dynamic material properties of UHPC are briefly intro-duced in comparison to conventional concrete. Second, based on physical tests, key aspects in UHPC design to resist HVPI are reviewed, which include fibre reinforcement, high strength coarse aggregate, alternative binder system as well as structural reinforcement and designs. Third, in a view of the development in material constitutive models under complex dynamic loads and computational techniques, numerical simulations of UHPC under HVPI are reviewed and discussed. Further, empirical and semi-empirical formulae to predict the depth of penetration (DOP) on conventional concrete are collected and evaluated on their suitability for UHPC.

Automated summary

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a promising material in civil and military constructions to resist hazardous loads. This study reviews the research advances in UHPC targets to resist high velocity projectile impact (HVPI) and discusses the key factors in UHPC design, numerical simulations, and empirical formulae for predicting UHPC performance.