Calibrations of numerical models by experimental impact tests using scaled steel boxes

The bridge piers located in navigation waterways are susceptible to vessel impact. In order to protect bridge piers from vessel impact, different kinds of protective structures have been developed. As one of such protective structures, the flexible anti-collision device with a steel outer periphery surrounding the bridge pier is frequently used in bridge designs against vessel impact. The mechanical properties of such steel anti-collision devices subjected to vessel impact loadings often need to be investigated by means of finite-element simulations using numerical models, the accuracy of which is critical. The objective of this paper is to conduct a group of hammer impact tests using scaled steel boxes and use the experimental results to validate the numerical models. Such numerical models with sufficient prediction accuracy can be further extended for applications to the design of the steel anti-collision devices subjected to vessel impact loadings.