Layered high-performance concrete plates interacting with granular soil under blast loads: an experimental investigation

A new layered precast tunnel segment made of different fibre-reinforced cementitious composites is here proposed. The paper aims to study the effect of impulsive distributed pressure over tunnel rings under blast loads for the development of this new design solution. Shock tube experiments have been carried out to investigate a small portion of tunnel segment interacting with soil subjected to a plane shock wave. A set of accelerometers mounted on the specimen and placed inside the soil, as well as strain gauges mounted on the ad-hoc chamber containing the specimen and the soil, have provided valuable information on the soil–structure interaction response. A careful investigation on the possible delamination between concrete layers is also carried out by UPV measurements. The experimental results have pointed out the great potential of this new design solution for precast tunnel segments subjected to internal explosions.