Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

Zulfaqar J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum. Vol.0 Issue 0 (0000) 0-0

ZULFAQAR Journal of
Defence Management, Social Science & Humanities
Journal homepage: zulfaqar.upnm.edu.my

High Tensile Bollard for Blast Loading Using Composite Concrete

Muhamad Azani Yahyaa,*, Atiq Farwiez Marukhib, Vikneswaran Munikananc, Norazman Mohamad
Nord, Ariffin Ismaile

a-e Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia

*Corresponding author: azani@upnm.edu.my

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history: The usage of bollard is very important in protecting buildings. It can prevent
Received vehicles from passing through to the building. But the public now is less sensitive
00-00-0000 about the use of bollards. They assume the use of bollard is wasteful and for aesthetic
Received in revised only. Therefore, most of building are not installed the bollard to protect the building.
00-00-0000 Besides that, there are also mounted bollards installed inappropriate to that place.
Accepted For example, some bollard installed on buildings not a concrete type that can
00-00-0000 withstand strong impacts. Furthermore, some important and historic buildings need
Available online to install an explosive proof type of bollard as building protection. Method that use
00-00-0000 for this research is destructive test. Seven mixes been used and tested in this
research. The air blasts tests showed that the bollards would either develop small
Keywords: deformations with a few cracks or would break into two parts. This is because the
High-tensile Bollard, fact that the bollards will be accelerated by the relatively large air blasts pressure
Blast Loading, Synthetic
over the whole bollards surface.
Fiber
© 2021 UPNM Press. All rights reserved.

e-ISSN:
Type: Article

Introduction

A bollard is a short post designed to guide traffic and protect from vehicle intrusions. Bollards can be
manufactured and installed to withstand significant vehicle impacts, but they can also be used as visual
barriers. Bollards also have decorative elements to complement building and landscape designs.
Throughout history, bollards have been used in many applications, including road or boundary markings
and mooring posts. Bollards are still used to manage vehicle traffic and protect pedestrians, buildings and
landscapes.
Due to increased frequency and danger of malicious attacks on commercial and government buildings,
there is an emergent need to protect important structures. The primary threat to buildings and
infrastructure is a terrorist attack carried out with vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED). A
large component of defending against casualties and property damage from such an attack is maintaining
an adequate standoff distance between the structure and explosive device using effective perimeter
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

protection. Variety of structural systems, collectively called anti-rams, has been designed to accomplish the
goal of keeping dangerous vehicles away from priority facilities.
The basic physical protection strategies for buildings to resist explosive threats are establishing a secure
perimeter. Generally, the size of the explosive threat will determine the effectiveness of each of these
protective strategies and the extent of resources needed to protect the occupants. Therefore, determining
the appropriate design threat is fundamental to the design process and requires careful consideration.
Figure 1 shows the example of typical concrete bollard.

Figure 1: Example of Concrete Bollard (Meda, 2005)

The primary design objective is to save the lives of those who visit or work inside the buildings in the
unlikely event that an explosive terrorist attack occurs. In terms of building design, the first goal is to
prevent progressive collapse which historically has caused the most fatalities in terrorist incident targeting
buildings. Beyond this, the goal is to provide design solutions which will limit injuries to those inside the
building due to impact of flying debris and air-blast during an incident, and to limit harm to innocent
civilians near the building perimeter (Yahya, et. al., 2018).
Macro synthetic fibres are typically used in structural concrete as replacement for nominal bar or fabric
reinforcement. It does not replace structural steel and cannot be part of the design in accordance with these
Euro codes. However, macro synthetic fibres can be used to provide the concrete with significant post-
cracking capacity and hence can be used in some designs based on plastic analysis, such as for ground-
supported slabs and for rock support using sprayed concrete. Design approaches are not as well developed
as for steel fibres, though in many cases the same methods are used, making allowance for the differences
in the stress strain behaviour and in the long-term performance. Figure 2 shows the typical look of Macro
Synthetic Fiber.

Figure 2: Example of Macro Synthetic Fiber

 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

There is limited information on how the physical properties of macro synthetic fibres change with time and
hence how the long-term structural performance of fibre-reinforced concrete may be affected. In situations
in which the fibres are subjected to low levels of tensile stress in service for example the concrete is
uncracked, the strength of the fibre, and hence the moment capacity of the concrete element, will not be
affected.
When subjected to fire, macro fibres will soften as the temperature rises and will melt at a temperature of
150–160 degrees Celsius. They will lose their mechanical properties and will no longer provide any
structural capacity. It is therefore clearly important to avoid the use of macro synthetic fibres to provide
structural capacity which may be lost in the event of fire with consequent collapse. The fire design of
composite slabs with profiled metal sheeting, using specific combinations of fibres and profiled metal
sheeting has been determined by full-scale testing and a fire engineering model.
Synthetic fibers may be made of a number of different polymer materials as shown in Table 1. These include
relatively low modulus fibers such as polypropylene and polyethylene, and high modulus fibers such as
carbon and Kevlar. Polypropylene fibers have seen the most extensive use even though it hasbeen noted in
the literature that fibers with a modulus of elasticity greater than concrete are required to increase the
strength of the concrete (Bentur & Mindness, 2007).
In addition, bond strength between polypropylene fibers and the concrete is relatively low, meaning that
the ability to transmit stresses across a matrix crack through interfacial bond is limited (Weerheijm, 2013).
However, many of the readily available synthetic fiber materials also exhibit these issues and
polypropylene offers many other advantageous properties. Polypropylene can be easily worked to produce
a fiber with a higher modulus of elasticity and tensile strength (Gregor-Svetec and Sluga, 2005).
This is of limited concern for fiber reinforced concrete as a pull-out failure mechanism is desired and is
most often exhibited (Meda, et. al., 2005). Also, polypropylene fibers can be easily formed into a variety of
shapes and sizes with different surface finishes. This improves bond properties and can be done at a low
cost, since polypropylene fibers are roughly ten times less expensive by weight than glass fibers (Yan &
Park, 2013).

Table 1: Typical Synthetic Fiber Properties (Bentur & Mindness, 2007)

More recently, the desire to use polypropylene fibers as structural reinforcement has grown. To this end,
macro-synthetic polypropylene fibers have been developed (Andersson & Karlsson, 2012) and has a
relatively high elastic modulus for polypropylene (10,000 MPa). The fiber is “stick-like” and consists of two
filaments cross-linked along the fiber length. In addition, the surface of the fiber is embossed to create
deformations that provide mechanical anchorage between the fiber and the concrete.
Macro synthetic fibers, sometimes known as ‘structural’ synthetic fibers, are made from a blend of
polymers and were originally developed to provide an alternative to steel fibers in some applications.
Initially they were identified as a potential alternative to steel fibers in sprayed concrete, but increasing
research and development showed that they had a role to play in the design and construction of ground-
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

supported slabs and a wide range of other applications. It has been found that macro synthetic fibers may
be used with a wide range of concrete strengths.
Macro synthetic fibers have a high tensile strength and a relatively high modulus of elasticity. Unlike
polypropylene ´micro´ fibers, it can significantly increase the post-cracking capacity of concrete and are
starting to be used in place of steel fibers in a range of applications, including ground-supported slabs,
sprayed concrete and small precast concrete. Macro synthetic fibers are particularly suitable for providing
nominal reinforcement in aggressive environments, such as marine and coastal structures, as it does not
suffer the problems of staining that can result from the corrosion of steel.
Macro synthetic Fiber provides post-first crack toughness and enhanced fatigue strength, impact resistance
and surface abrasion resistance, which leads to a more durable concrete with a longer service life.
Advantage of macro synthetic fibers:

• Reduced expansion-contraction from thermal and moisture changes;

• Longer service life and durability; and
• A more homogeneous concrete strength from the top to the bottom of the slab.

Optimizing these properties produces a macro synthetic fiber with excellent dispersion and finishing
properties.
Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is not a new concept. Since old times fibers were used in cementing
construction materials. In example in the recent times the asbestos fiber was extensively used in structural
components like wall panels, roofs and gates. In the early 1960’s the health risk of manufacturing and using
asbestos fibers became apparent and alternative fibers were introduced as a replacement (Field, et. al.,
2004).
After asbestos fibers, steel fibers was one of the first possible alternatives to steel bar reinforcing, with the
first patent being applied for in 1874. It was however only in the early 1970’s that the use of these fibers
on a large scale was noticed in the USA, Japan and in Europe. Examples of existing structures build from
steel and other fiber reinforced concretes include ground supported slabs, suspended slabs, pile supported
slabs, tunnel panel segments (The Channel Tunnel Rail Link project) and various in situ concrete structures.
The desired result of adding fibers to any concrete mix is to enhance its mechanical and shrinkage
properties. The improvements gained by using fibers depend on the properties of the fiber which include
the fiber material as well as fiber length and geometry. Various materials are used to produce fibers for use
in concrete. Currently the main distinctly different categories are steel fibers, synthetic fibers, glass fibers
and organic or natural fibers. Table 2 shows some of the fibers from every category along with the basic
material properties.
Manufacturers produce fibers in different geometrical forms to improve the bond characteristics between
fiber and the concrete mix. All fibers are either categorised as macro or micro fibers. The term structural
fibers are often used for macro fibers which have lengths between 19-60mm. These fibers are expected to
bridge cracks and provide structural support of the hardened state of concrete. Micro fibers on the other
hand are included in a mix to help improve the fresh and early stage tensile and flexural strength of
concrete.
These fibers provide the necessary resistance to tensile forces developed by drying shrinkage as well as
plastic shrinkage. Micro fibers range between 2-10mm in length and nominal diameters of 0.1-1mm
(PetrMaca & Konvalinka, 2012).
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

Table 2: Properties of various fiber types (Hassan, et. al., 2012)

The shapes of synthetic fibers are similar to that of steel fibers with the straight and crimped forms being
the most common for macro fibers. Micro fibers for both steel and synthetic fibers are usually only available
in short straight forms. These fibers could be produced as monofilaments, collated fibrillated filaments or
continues films (Vankatesan, & Tamizhazhagan, 2016). Polypropylene is one of the most used synthetics is
fibers for concrete. This is due to their light weight and relative low cost.
Bollards are used throughout heavy industry and in commercial building management to protect assets.
They usually consist of a simple steel post anchored to concrete, cored into a hard surface, buried in the
ground or secured on a self-locking taper or impact recovery system to protect the surrounding
foundations when a bollard is struck.
These bollards protect utilities, electronics, machinery, buildings, or pedestrians from accidental collisions
by vehicles, including passenger vehicles, transport trucking, and fork lifts. As collisions can cause damage
to vehicles, operators, or the bollards themselves, new bollards have been developed that absorb some of
the impact energy, lessening the violence of the collision. Some are made of forgiving plastics while others
are made of steel but fitted with an elastomeric to absorb the impact energy.
Bollards are widely used to contribute to safety and security. The American Bar Association (ABA) states
that bollards are used to contribute to homeland security. The American National Institute of Building
Sciences site the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) recommends in its Design Guidance that open
spaces surrounding and contiguous to buildings be included as integral parts of a security design.
There are two main kinds of security-related bollard:

• Non crash-resistant bollards; and

• Crash- and attack-resistant bollards, a hardened barrier system used to protect military,
governmental and other buildings or compounds of higher security levels. They are often used by
retailers to prevent "ram-raiding" burglaries. Large concrete planters are a decorative alternative
to traditional bollards.
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, non-crash resistant bollards are "perceived
impediments to access" and address the actions of two groups.

• Law-abiding persons who comply with civil prescriptions of behaviour as defined by the manner
in which bollards are put to use; and
• Potentially threatening and disruptive persons for whom bollard applications are proscriptive by
announcing their behaviour is anticipated and those additional levels of security await them.

Rising bollards are increasingly common around the world to hinder vehicle-based terrorist actions from
achieving close proximity to buildings and are also used to prevent terrorist vehicle ramming attacks such
as in the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack. They are also useful in mixed-use public spaces, which
support both pedestrian use and emergency or service vehicle use.
The air blast tests were conducted at the shooting range area so that the splash of concrete debris will not
hit people. The explosive charge was positioned in the centre of the bollards with cross section at a distance
of 500mm from the bollards. The distance was chosen because the reflected pressure then can be
considered as a uniformly distributed load across the bollards surface. The explosive charge consisted of
trinitrotoluene mix with emulsion as a sphere. The mass of the explosive in this test is approximately to
3kg. The layout position of the bollards and the explosive charged as shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3: Layout Position of Bollards and Explosive

For the air blast tests of the bollards of concrete grade 30, the amount of macro synthetic fibre fracture was
estimated to about 3 % in bollards using simulation od AutoDyn. Thus, a tendency towards an increased
amount of macro synthetic fibre fractures was observed in the air blast tests compared to simulation result.
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

Figure 4: Show Sample of Bollards before Air Blasts Test

Figure 5: Show the Position of Bollards before Air Blasts Test

In the air blasts tests, there were some difficulties to obtain an accurate explosive strength that
corresponded to the strength of the bollards, especially for bollards with concrete grade 30. The air blasts
tests showed that the bollards would either develop small deformations with a few cracks or would break
into two parts. This is because the fact that the bollards will be accelerated by the relatively large air blasts
pressure over the whole bollards surface. The bollards will thereby obtain a certain kinetic energy, which
needs to be absorbed by the bollards and converted into internal energy by concrete strains, cracking and
fibre pull-out (or fractures).
From the observation, the bollards with 0.5% of macro synthetic doesn’t shows any cracks due to air blasts
compare to sample bollards and other mix bollards as in Figure 6. This is because the bollards with 0.5%
of macro synthetic fiber has the highest strength and can withstand the air blasts effect. Besides that, the
bollards with percentage of 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% also doesn’t show worst effect of air blasts. It only affects
the surface of the bollards as shown in Figure 7 until Figure 9.
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

The bollards with 2.5% and 3.0% of macro synthetic fiber show the worth effect of air blasts. By
observation from Figure 10 until Figure 11, the bollards break until the inner of the bollards. The effect of
air blasts has reached the steel bar in the bollards until the steel bar bends. This would happen because
there are many voids in the bollards due to the percentage of the bollards. As discus before, because of too
much percentage of macro synthetic fiber in the mixture make it block the cement from entering the void
in the concrete. This will make the bollards simply to crush when apply load or air blasts on it.

Figure 6: Show the Effect of Air Blasts Test Toward 0.5% Sample Bollards

Figure 7: Show the Effect of Air Blasts Test Toward 1.0% Sample Bollards

Figure 8: Show the Effect of Air Blasts Test Toward 1.5% Sample Bollards
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

Figure 9: Show the Effect of Air Blasts Test Toward 2.0% Sample Bollards

Figure 10: Show the Effect of Air Blasts Test Toward 2.5% Sample Bollards

Figure 11: Show the Effect of Air Blasts Test Toward 3.0% Sample Bollards
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

Conclusion

In the air blasts tests, there were some difficulties to obtain an accurate explosive strength that
corresponded to the strength of the bollards, especially for bollards with concrete grade 30. The air blasts
tests showed that the bollards would either develop small deformations with a few cracks or would break
into two parts. This is because the fact that the bollards will be accelerated by the relatively large air blasts
pressure over the whole bollards surface. The bollards will thereby obtain a certain kinetic energy, which
needs to be absorbed by the bollards and converted into internal energy by concrete strains, cracking and
fibre pull-out (or fractures). From the observation, the bollards with 0.5% of macro synthetic doesn’t shows
any cracks due to air blasts compare to sample bollards and other mix bollards. This is because the bollards
with 0.5% of macro synthetic fiber has the highest strength and can withstand the air blasts effect. Besides
that, the bollards with percentage of 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% also doesn’t show worst effect of air blasts. It
only affects the surface of the bollards. The bollards with 2.5% and 3.0% of macro synthetic fiber show the
worth effect of air blasts. By observation, the bollards break until the inner of the bollards. The effect of air
blasts has reached the steel bar in the bollards until the steel bar bends. This would happen because there
are many voids in the bollards due to the percentage of the bollards. As discus before, because of too much
percentage of macro synthetic fiber in the mixture make it block the cement from entering the void in the
concrete. This will make the bollards simply to crush when apply load or air blasts on it.

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Short Term Grant, UPNM (UPNM/2016/GPJP/3/TK/2). We thank our
colleagues from UPNM who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the research.
 Author et al. / Zulfaqar Int. J. Def. Mgt. Soc. Sci. Hum.

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