Impact tests for IRIS_2010 benchmark exercise

IRIS_2010 benchmark was an exercise in OECD/NEA/CSNI framework. This exercise concentrated on improving robustness assessment methodologies for structures impacted by missiles. This article describes experimental tests included in the exercise. These tests consisted of two tests for bending, three for punching and one for combined punching and bending behaviour of reinforced concrete walls under impact loading. The test for combined behaviour was carried out in Meppen, Germany in the 1980’s, while all the other tests were carried out by VTT Technical research centre of Finland during the spring of 2010. In the bending behaviour tests, 0.15 m thick simply supported square concrete walls with span width of 2 m were impacted with soft missiles weighing ∼50 kg and having velocity of ∼110 m/s at the impact moment. The impacts resulted maximum displacements of 29-32 mm at the centre of the wall with the permanent values being 8-9 mm. In the punching behaviour tests, similar walls but with thickness of 0.25 m were impacted with hard missiles weighing ∼47.5 kg and having velocity of ∼135 m/s at the impact moment. The impacts resulted perforation of the wall by the missile with residual velocity of the missile being 34-46 m/s. In addition, the walls suffered severe scabbing on the backside with the scabbed area being 1.00-1.12 m²