Numerical study of a concrete target under the penetration of rigid projectile using an elastoplastic damage model

•A constitutive model is developed for concrete with an emphasis on the pressure dependence of volume change.•The effect of concrete volume change and damage on the penetration behavior of projectile is analyzed.•The main patterns observed in the laboratory tests are analyzed.

To enhance the understanding of interaction between elastoplastic damage behavior of concrete and penetration behavior of projectile, this study develops an elastoplastic damage model for concrete with an emphasis on the pressure dependence of volume change. Numerical analysis is performed by using the finite element code Abaqus/Explicite, in which the proposed model is incorporated. In order to understand the effect of concrete volume change and concrete damage on the penetration behavior of projectile, a series of parametric studies are carried out. Finally, some projectile penetration tests are simulated by using the proposed model. The numerical results reproduce satisfactorily the main patterns observed in the projectile penetration tests. The interpretation and discussion of numerical results help the engineers and ballisticians complete their knowledge on the vulnerability of concrete structures.