This paper describes the use of internally strain gauged reinforcing bars during blast tests on reinforced concrete slab panels conducted at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas. The challenge was to produce gauged bars that could withstand the violent strain peaks induced by blast effects. Seven bars were manufactured at the University of Durham and shipped to SwRI for installation in the test specimens. Some additional bars were also externally strain gauged using surface mounted strain gauges to permit a direct comparison of the two techniques. The externally mounted gauges performed erratically as a result of the blast effects. Some physically failed at the gauge/bar interface while others partially failed, yielding offsets in strain data. The internally gauged bars, however, performed very satisfactorily and proved themselves capable of recording the very high and transient peak stains (up to 30 000 microstrain in less than 1 millisecond) resulting from the blasts.

  • INTRODUCTION

  • TEST PROGRAMME

  • RESULTS

  • CONCLUSIONS

  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  • REFERENCES

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