Feasibility Study on Novel Blasting Technique Using Linear-Shaped Charges to Cut Reinforcing Steel Bars in Reinforced Concrete Members

To safely and effectively demolish high-rise RC buildings with heavily arranged reinforcement using an explosive technique, the use of internal blasting alone is not sufficient to reduce the strength of RC members down to the demolition level. In some cases, it is essential to employ a new explosion technique to cut reinforcing steel bars in the RC members. Thus, this paper examines the technique of using linear-shaped charges in cutting reinforcing bars in the RC members. Investigated variables include the concrete cover, the diameter of reinforcing steel bars, the compressive strength of concrete, and the amount of explosives used in the linear-shaped charge. Test results indicate that it is possible to cut the reinforcing bars embedded in concrete using a linear-shaped charge technique. The amount of explosives required for cutting reinforcing steel bars depends largely on the concrete cover and diameter of reinforcing bars rather than the compressive strength of concrete.