PC-based simulations of blasting demolition of RC structures

A fully three-dimensional finite difference code is developed for simulating wave and fracture propagation in solids and it is used to study the physical process associated with blasting demolition of reinforced concrete (RC) structures on a PC basis. The code is validated by comparing the numerical results with those obtained by a blasting experiment using a RC beam specimen in the field. A real example of blasting demolition of piers of a road bridge is shown and the usability of the code is tested. Detailed computations have revealed that the use of a simple tensile fracture criterion can reproduce the observed fracture patterns precisely.