This textbook covers the collision of a moving, falling or flying object on a rigid barrier or a structural element, and the transmission of the transient action to the rest of the structural system. It is the only up-to-date book on this under-researched topic that confronts engineers on a day-to-day basis.

The book deals with a range of real-life engineering problems and focuses on the application of knowledge and skillsets from structural analysis and structural dynamics. Fundamental principles and concepts on structural collision are first introduced, followed by their specific applications such as vehicular collision on bridge structures, boulder impact on rockfall barriers and collision by hail and windborne debris. Analytical solutions provided are in the form of closed-form expressions, which can be directly adopted in conventional manual calculations. The use of spreadsheets to simulate the dynamic response behaviour is also covered.

• The only standalone book covering the topic from a civil engineering perspective
• Practical guidance on real-life engineering problems, and use of computational and physical methods
• Conveys methodology validated experimentally

The book provides an excellent guide for practitioners and sets out fundamental principles for graduate students in civil, structural and mechanical engineering.

Arnold C. Y. Yong is a Research Fellow in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Arnold received his PhD from the University of Melbourne. His research primarily focuses on collision actions and he has led a number of large-scale experimental programs funded by the Australian Research Council. His research has also been funded by the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to provide expert advice in developing technical notes.

Nelson T. K. Lam is a Professor and Leader of the Structures and Buildings Discipline in Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He is Editor of the Australian Journal of Structural Engineering, member of the Structural College Board of Engineers Australia and a member of the committee responsible for the Australian standard for seismic actions. Nelson has received many awards for his research, including the Chapman Medal (1999, 2010, 2019) and Warren Medal (2006) from Engineers Australia.

Scott J. Menegon is a consulting structural engineering and academic with expertise in reinforced concrete, earthquake engineering and collisions actions. Scott received his PhD from Swinburne University of Technology, where he was the joint inaugural recipient of the prestigious Dr William Piper Brown AM scholarship. Scott currently works in industry and maintains his affiliation with Swinburne as an Adjunct Industry Fellow. His achievement in research was recently recognised by the award of the Chapman Medal (2019) by Engineers Australia.

1. Introduction

2. Structural dynamics

3. Fundamentals of solid object impact

4. Impact on a free standing barrier

5. Impact of a fallen object on a structural element

6. Dynamics of structures responding to solid object impact

7. Impact actions co-existing with static earth pressure

8. Impact on a pole embedded in soil

9. Impact force localised around the point of contact

10. Impact on reinforced concrete

11. The cushioning of an impact

12. Impact on glass

13. Impact on cladding

14. Excel spreadsheets for simulating impact actions

15. Problems and solutions for classroom learning