Collision capacity evaluation of RC columns by impact simulation and probabilistic evaluation

Recently, increasing traffic in urban areas has led to a dramatic increase in collisions between speeding vehicles and structural columns. An impact applies a greater force to a column than its regular static or dynamic load because of the mass acceleration effect of the vehicle. Vehicle impact can cause catastrophic damage to structural columns and ultimately cause them to collapse; therefore, an in-depth study of their structural resistance to vehicle impact is needed. This paper reports the behavior of a reinforced concrete (RC) compression member or column under a lateral impact load. The study quantitatively assessed the columns' resistance capacity and developed an impact-resistance capacity evaluation procedure. Because it is extremely difficult and costly to experimentally perform a parametric study for column impact scenarios, this analytical study was carried out using LS-DYNA, a commercial explicit finite element (FE) analysis program that simulates the effects of a high strain rate from impact or blast loading on structural and material behavior. The parameters used for this case study were cross-section shape variation, impact load angle, axial load magnitude ratio, concrete compressive strength, longitudinal and lateral reinforcement ratios, and slenderness ratio. Using the analysis results, an impact resistance capacity evaluation procedure using a probabilistic approach is proposed.