Zuievska N., Darmostuk D., Semchuk R., Zuievskyi Y. Modelling blast effects for a multilayer “Reinforced-concrete slab–Soil mass” system
- Details
- Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025
- Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025, Issue 175
Geotech. meh. 2025, 175, 169-180
https://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2025.175.169
MODELLING BLAST EFFECTS FOR A MULTILAYER “REINFORCED-CONCRETE SLAB–SOIL MASS” SYSTEM
National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”
UDC 622.342.6 + 528.9
Language: English
Abstract. This paper presents a numerical study explosion loading on a multilayer protective system of the “reinforced-concrete slab–soil mass” type, aimed at enhancing the safety of shallow underground structures. The concept of multilayering is examined as a fundamental principle of blast protection, where a reinforced-concrete slab works together with underlying porous layers (sand, gravel, soil) to form an energy-absorbing system that attenuates stress transmission with depth.
The blast response is modelled in ANSYS Explicit Dynamics using a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian formulation. The explosive charge (500 kg TNT equivalent) and surrounding air are represented by Eulerian domains with a JWL equation of state, while the reinforced-concrete slab and soil mass are modelled by Lagrangian meshes. For the soil, a pressure-dependent Drucker–Prager-type model with compaction and rate effects (SAND DP4) is employed, whereas the concrete behaviour is described using a standard ANSYS concrete model, including strength, shear, volumetric response and damage. Impedance boundary conditions are applied at the outer faces of the model to minimise artificial wave reflections.
Structural integrity is assessed primarily through the maximum principal stress σ₁, which governs crack initiation in brittle concrete and in the surrounding soil. Path-based post-processing (Path Plot) is used to obtain Max Principal Stress distributions along selected lines beneath slabs of varying thickness (0.2, 0.6, 1.0 and 1.5 m). The results demonstrate that increasing slab thickness significantly reduces tensile stress peaks in the soil and smooths their spatial distribution due to improved shielding and damping. The interference pattern of incident and reflected waves is clearly visible in the stress profiles, highlighting critical zones where tensile stresses and damage risks are greatest.
The proposed modelling approach and obtained results provide a methodologically robust basis for optimising the thickness of reinforced-concrete slabs and the properties of underlying porous layers, enabling more reliable design of blast-resistant multilayer systems for shallow underground facilities.
Keywords: blast loading, multilayer protective systems, reinforced-concrete slab–soil mass, ANSYS Explicit Dynamics, Eulerian–Lagrangian coupling, Drucker–Prager model, RHT concrete model, underground protective structures, porous energy-absorbing layers, maximum principal stress.
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About the authors
Zuievska Natalia, Doctor of Technical Sciences (D.Sc.), Professor, Head of the Department of Geoengineering, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Corresponding author), ORCID 0000-0002-1716-1447
Darmostuk Denys, Doctoral Student of the Department of Geoengineering, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0009-0002-3714-9821
Semchuk Roman, Ph.D. student, Department of Geoengineering, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0009-0007-1336-6246
Zuievskyi Yurii, Ph.D. student, Department of Geoengineering, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,ORCID 0009-0006-4736-3150