Prediction of impact response of square reinforced concrete (RC) slab with square/circular opening under drop-weight impact using FEM simulation

Gravity load-carrying members of a structure are often subjected to low-velocity impact during construction and subsequent service life. In contrast to quasi-static situations, dynamic impacts introduce impulsive loading that must be carefully addressed by considering the strain-rate characteristics of materials. The performance of reinforced concrete (RC) slabs with opening(s) subjected to such loading is an important topic of considerable interest from the structural design point of view. The present study investigates the response of an RC slab with an opening under drop-weight impact loading and therefore analysis sets out via an explicit platform of Abaqus software. Damage plasticity models built into the ABAQUS software are used to incorporate materials’ nonlinearity in the analysis. The slab that does not have any openings is regarded as the baseline slab, and its response to impact load is compared to the findings of Sadraie et al. (Eng Struct 191, 62–81, 2019). Following validation, square and circular openings of 1/8th of the size of the slab (≈125 mm) at diagonally and mid-span eccentric farthest possible locations in the middle strip of the slab are considered and analysed to evaluate its impact response under the same drop load. Slab performance is found invariably almost identical in terms of maximum displacement for the location and geometry of the opening of the same size. However, the slab with a circular opening displays improved performance against damage and cracking than with a square opening along the diagonally eccentric location of the slab. he novelty of this research lies in the determination of the optimal geometry and diagonal positioning of opening/s in the RC slab to enhance its anti-damage performance.