Nonlinear explicit transient dynamic impact analysis has been carried out for RC structural components by using finite element method. Widely used concrete damage model has been employed to represent nonlinear behaviour of concrete. Projectile is assumed to be rigid. Reinforcement has been modelled in three ways, namely, discrete, smeared and option model available in the software. Numerical studies have been carried out to compute the response of concrete target due to impact of projectile. Penetration depth has been computed for various grades of concrete, caliber radius head (CRH) and velocities. Based on parametric studies, it is observed that (i) penetration depth decreases with the increase of grade of concrete (ii) penetration depth increases with the increase of CRH (iii) penetration depth increases with increase of velocity (iv) the difference between the computed penetration depth with and without accounting the effect of reinforcement for 0.6% is approximately 10% and (v) the computed penetration depth using discrete model falls in between the option model and smeared model.

Keywords: Impact analysis, Concrete damage model, Contact algorithm, Nonlinear transient dynamic analysis, Finite element method.