Dynamic Shear Response and Shear Failure Mechanism of RC Columns under Lateral Soft Impact

Zhen Tao; Fei-Fan Feng; Lin Chen; Tao Liu; Xian-Zhong Xie; Dong-Jie Shen; Hyeon-Jong Hwang

doi:10.46604/ijeti.2026.16724

Authors

Zhen Tao School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, China
Fei-Fan Feng School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology/ Hunan University of Science and Technology Engineering Testing Co., Ltd., Xiangtan, China
Lin Chen School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, China
Tao Liu School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, China
Xian-Zhong Xie School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, China
Dong-Jie Shen School of Civil Engineering, Changsha Vocational & Technical College, Changsha, China
Hyeon-Jong Hwang Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46604/ijeti.2026.16724

Keywords:

RC columns, soft impact, impactor stiffness, shear resistance mechanism, finite element simulation

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the dynamic shear response and damage mechanisms of reinforced concrete (RC) columns under soft impact. High-fidelity finite element (FE) models are developed and validated against pendulum impact tests, followed by simulations. The results show that, unlike a hard impactor, a soft impactor absorbs kinetic energy through its deformation, which mitigates the dynamic effect and thus decreases the probability of one-way/punching shear failure in RC columns. Dynamic shear force in RC columns increases with increasing impactor stiffness under low-velocity impact, but decreases beyond a critical stiffness under high-velocity impact. This trend results from the transition from one-way shear to punching shear. The inertial force of shear plug is mainly affected by impactor stiffness and impact velocity, whereas other factors exert negligible influence. The punching shear resistance model proposed for hard impact demonstrates good applicability for evaluating the one-way/punching shear failure of RC columns under soft impact.

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