Dynamic Mechanical Properties of EPS Concrete Under Impact Loading

The finite element method(FEM) models of expanded polystyrene(EPS) concrete were established to study the relationships among dynamic damage, energy absorption and efficiency of buffering materials with varied flexible aggregate contents and impact speeds based on the existing split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)experiments. Applied material indexes including damage degrees, crack rates and energy absorption capacities,and the dynamic responses of EPS concrete under impact loading were investigated. The results show that the failure types of these materials evolve from quasi-brittle destruction to flow-plastic destruction, the damage degree of EPS concrete increases with the enhancement of flexible aggregate content, and the peak of crack rate exists around the extreme point of shock velocities. The energy-absorption efficiency of EPS concrete increases nonlinearly when the EPS beads increase and the shock speed enhances, respectively.