Fracture behaviour of ceramic blocks with thin-walled cellular structures under dynamic loadings

Abstract This paper lays the foundation for the development of a high-load bearing energy absorbing system with controlled deformation. Brittle ceramic blocks made of bricks with thin-walled cellular structures are presented and tested with impact loading. The authors demonstrate that such blocks are able to absorb impact energy because of the gradual brittle fracture process which occurs in the cellular structures. Full-scale specimens were subjected to laboratory impact tests: two non-deformable flat-nosed cart tests as well as two full-scale field crash tests involving passenger vehicles with crumple zones. The experiments were designed specifically to prove that block specimens are able to gradually absorb different levels of impact energy and to examine the applicability of using such blocks in the design of cross-drainage culverts. Based on a comparison of the two collisions with test culverts, the authors show that consequences of the collision can be significantly reduced by using brittle blocks with cellular structures in culverts. In fact, the crumple zone of the passenger vehicle which collided with a brittle block culvert was not crumpled; vehicle bounce off was eliminated and gradual deceleration of the vehicle was recorded.