STRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BUNKERS IN HIGH SPEED BALANCING FACILITIES

Pericles C. Stivaros and A. J. Philippacopoulos
ACI Special Publication (SP) “Behavior of Concrete Structures Subjected to Blast and Impact Loadings,” Forthcoming

Reinforced concrete containment structures, known as concrete bunkers, are often used by the turbo machine industry to enclose spin test systems. Such structures must be designed to withstand the impact due to flying fragments generated by turbines during burst failures, to protect personnel from potential injury, and to minimize property damage. This paper discusses the local, as well as the global structural responses of high-speed balancing bunker facilities to such impact. Various empirical formulations currently employed by the industry to estimate missile penetration and minimum wall thickness required to prevent scabbing and perforation through the bunker walls are presented. Design codes and guidelines from other industries such as defense and nuclear, are reviewed for applicability to high speed balancing facilities. Non-linear finite element modeling is employed and the numerical simulation results are compared to those from empirical formulations. The effects of steel reinforcement, as well as the effects due to the global bunker flexibility are examined. Practical general design procedures for concrete bunkers are outlined.