Blast loading response of reinforced concrete panels reinforced with externally bonded GFRP laminates

The behavior of reinforced concrete panels, or slabs, retrofitted with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite, and subjected to blast load is investigated. Eight 1000×1000×70mm panels were made of 40MPa concrete and reinforced with top and bottom steel meshes. Five of the panels were used as control while the remaining four were retrofitted with adhesively bonded 500mm wide GFRP laminate strips on both faces, one in each direction …