Experimental investigation of concrete slabs produced with cement based mortars under dynamic loads

Many methods have been developed to test the strength of structural members at the present time. Reactions to impact effect take part among these methods. Reason of the investigation of impact effect comes forward due to several issues. Some of these issues consist of earthquake, wind, landslide, vehicle accident and terrorist attack incidents. Investigation of impact effect is needed due to these repetitive incidents. Impact tests are applied on various materials and objects by taking different methods into consideration. In this thesis study, effect of impact loading on concrete slabs which are prepared by cement based mortars in other words grout mortars is investigated. In the experimental study, 9 concrete slab specimens whose sizes are 500x500x50 mm are produced. Test specimens are prepared to provide different strength values and tested under impact loading by using the drop weight test setup which is developed for impact tests. While mass of the hammer that is produced by steel material is 4,125 kg, drop height is taken as 600 mm in the experimental study. Accelerometer, force sensor, lvdt, data-logger, connection cables and computer are used during tests to measure the reactions of test specimens under impact effect. Rubber material and steel plate are used at impact point to uniformly distribute the impact loading on test specimens. Drop periods of steel hammer are determined by the help of optic photocells in the test setup for each drop movement. Acceleration-time, displacement-time, impact force-time and impact force-displacement graphs of test specimens are constituted by using the values which are determined by measurement devices. Finally, obtained values after experimental study are investigated and suggestions are proposed.