Dynamic damage and failure response of ECC plates subjected to projectile impact

Reinforced concrete (RC) slabs are highly susceptible to severe failure modes such as spalling and penetration when subjected to blast loading, which significantly compromises structural integrity and safety. As most existing building structures are constructed with RC, enhancing the blast resistance of important ones is a crucial issue in structural protection. Engineered cementitious composites (ECC), characterized by high tensile strength, strain-hardening behavior, and excellent ductility, have demonstrated substantial potential for improving blast mitigation performance. In the present study, both experimental testing and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the response and damage of ECC panels with varying thicknesses subjected to projectile impact of different velocities. Numerical models were developed which enable high-fidelity analyses of the influence of major governing parameters such as velocity, mass, and projectile shape on the damage response of the ECC plates. Furthermore, a prediction formula for penetration depth under different impact conditions was proposed. The findings provide references for the application of ECC in protective structures and facilitate the design of blast-resistant structures with ECC in engineering practice.