Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, cilt.48, sa.4, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Static and dynamic loads such as earthquakes or wind, which have longer durations, are considered, while loads like sudden dynamic impact loads, which are effective over much shorter periods, are generally not taken into account in the design of reinforced concrete (RC) elements. However, these elements can be exposed to sudden dynamic impact loads during their economic lifespan due to various reasons. Despite their very short duration, these loads can cause significant stress and deformation, potentially leading to severe damage or complete collapse of structural elements. Among the structural elements most frequently affected by sudden impact loads are reinforced concrete slab and shear walls. In the literature, there are limited studies investigating the effects of the size, location, and number of openings left for architectural reasons on the behavior of RC slabs under impact loads. For this reason, an experimental study has been planned to investigate the behavior of RC slabs with openings under impact loads. Additionally, the effect of multiple repeated impact loads on the behavior of slab specimens is also examined. During the experiments, the changes in the maximum acceleration, displacement and impact load values of the RC slabs by time have been measured and how these values are affected by the experimental variables have been investigated. Besides, numerical models of the slab specimens are created by ABAQUS finite elements analysis software, and the experimental and numerical analysis results are compared and interpreted with each other. It has been observed that the openings left in RC slabs have a negative effect on the behavior of the slabs under impact loading. The openings caused a substantial decrease in the maximum acceleration values of the RC slabs, while significantly increasing the maximum and residual displacement values. The openings in RC slabs have reduced the maximum acceleration values by an average of 54% after the first impact load drop, while the maximum and residual displacement values have increased by an average of 94% and 118%, respectively. The repeated impact loads applied to the specimens have increased the negative effects caused by the openings on the behavior of the RC slabs under impact loading. While the maximum acceleration values are decreased by an average of 71%, the maximum and permanent displacement values are increased by an average of 105% and 304%, respectively.