An experimental investigation of the performance of non-composite steel-concrete-steel protective panels under large impact loading

In conventional steel-concrete-steel (SCS) construction, the external steel plates are connected to the concrete infill by welded shear connectors. This paper describes an experimental programme in which the response of axially restrained noncomposite (without shear connectors) SCS protective panels subject to impulsive loading was studied. A comprehensive parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects of different types of infill materials, amount of impact energy, and the bond between the concrete core and steel faceplates, on the performance of the protective panels. The experimental results showed that the panels developed high load-carrying capacity through the tensile membrane resistance of the steel faceplates at large deformation. The panels demonstrated a highly ductile response and were able to sustain large deformation up to 18 degrees end rotation without collapse. The high strength and high ductility characteristics of these SCS panels make them an economical alternative to the existing protective barrier structures.