Evaluation of automatic versus material test-based calibrations of concrete models for ballistic impact simulations

Concrete is used for protective structures all over the world. Accurate response estimates to a given threat is vital for designing such structures. Concrete models often require numerous input parameters for which sufficient experimental data can be challenging to obtain. Some models are accompanied by parameter generators which use the unconfined compression strength to extrapolate the remainder of the parameters based on experimental databases. This study investigates simulation of ballistic impact on high-strength concrete with 75 MPa nominal unconfined cylindrical compressive strength. The first objective is to investigate the accuracy parameter generators to produce input data for commonly used concrete material models. The second objective is to establish and evaluate a simplified parameter calibration procedure based on standard material experiments and data from the literature. The results employing parameter generators varied notably between the models while still giving decent ballpark estimates. The parameters obtained from inverse modelling of standardized material tests improved the results significantly. The findings of this study recommend caution when using automatic parameter generators. Although a detailed calibration of these concrete models is complicated, a simplified calibration gives reasonable predictions, making this the advisable approach for designing concrete protective structures.