• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.441-461
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• 2021

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are crucial in building structures and they are of higher vulnerability to terrorist threat than any other structural elements. Thus it is of great interest and necessity to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the possible responses of RC columns when exposed to high intensive blast loads. The primary objective of this study is to derive analytical formulas to assess vulnerability of RC columns using an advanced numerical modelling approach. This investigation is necessary as the effect of blast loads would be minimal to the RC structure if the explosive charge is located at the safe standoff distance from the main columns in the building and therefore minimizes the chance of disastrous collapse of the RC columns. In the current research, finite element model is developed for RC columns using LS-DYNA program that includes a comprehensive discussion of the material models, element formulation, boundary condition and loading methods. Numerical model is validated to aid in the study of RC column testing against the explosion field test results. Residual capacity of RC column is selected as damage criteria. Intensive investigations using Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) methodology are then implemented to evaluate the influence of scaled distance, column dimension, concrete and steel reinforcement properties and axial load index on the vulnerability of RC columns. The generated empirical formulae can be used by the designers to predict a damage degree of new column design when consider explosive loads. With an extensive knowledge on the vulnerability assessment of RC structures under blast explosion, advancement to the convention design of structural elements can be achieved to improve the column survivability, while reducing the lethality of explosive attack and in turn providing a safer environment for the public.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

The purpose of this paper is the assessment of the capacity of the reinforced concrete (RC) elements of an arch bridge when they are subjected to contact and near-contact explosive charges of various amounts, and the estimation of the critical charges for these components. The bridge considered is the Tenza Viaduct, a decommissioned structure south of Naples, Italy. Its primary elements, deck, piers and arches were analyzed. The evaluation was accomplished via numerical analyses that made possible to obtain the elements dynamic response when they are exposed to blast loading conditions. To evaluate the member's capacities, failure criteria for deck, piers and arches were proposed based on concrete damage parameters. Additionally, curves relating the explosive charge to the residual capacity and to damage level of the elements were also developed. The results of this work were taken into account to investigate the progressive collapse of the global structure.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.369-380
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• 2019

When a extreme loading such as blast is applied to prestressed concrete (PSC) structures and infrastructures for an instantaneous time, serious property damages and human casualties occur. However, a existing design procedure for PSC structures such as prestressed containment vessel (PCCV) and gas storage tank do not consider a protective design for extreme internal blast scenario. Particularly, an internal blast is much more dangerous than that of external blast. Therefore, verification of the internal blast loading is required. In this paper, the internal blast resistance capacity of PSC member is evaluated by performing internal blast tests on RC and bi-directional PSC scaled down specimens. The applied internal blast loads were 22.68, 27.22, and 31.75 kg (50, 60, and 70 lbs) ANFO explosive charge at 1,000 mm standoff distance. The data acquisitions include blast pressure, deflection, strain, crack patterns, and prestressing force. The test results showed that it is possible to predict the damage area to the structure when internal blast loading occurs in PCCV structures.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.948-956
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• 2011

In this paper, mechanism design of the explosive ordnance disposal(EOD) manipulator for small unmanned ground vehicle(SUGV) is presented from the conceptual to detailed design. EOD manipulator has been widely developed in the world due to the growing threat of the improvised explosive devices at war. It has distinctive characteristics, such as small size and high loading performance, compared to the industrial manipulator which is fixed on the floor. Design of new EOD manipulator must take into account various functional requirements and constraints simultaneously. We focused on developing the EOD manipulator that has suitable size for the SUGV and maximum 15kg payload capacity. Design approach taken in this paper is based on axiomatic design procedure and comparison among many possible candidates of each joint structure to obtain appropriate entire structure of EOD manipulator.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.347-352
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• 2015

Chemical properties such as heat of formation and density of methylnitroimidazole derivatives were predicted and analyzed by using density functional theory (DFT). Successive addition of energetic nitro groups into an imidazole ring increases both the heat of formation and the density. Using the chemical property values computed by DFT, explosive performance was analyzed with the Cheetah program, and compared with those of TNT, RDX, and HMX, which are currently used widely in military systems. When both C-J pressure and detonation velocity were used as explosive performance, methyldinitroimidazole derivatives show better performance than TNT, while methyltrinitroimidzole is almost close to RDX. Since methylnitroimidazole derivatives have a good merit, i.e. low melting point for melt loading, they are forecasted to be used widely in various military and civilian application.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 1997

Three-dimensional dynamic analyses of underground openings subjected to explosive loadings are carried out. Dynamic analyses consist of two steps; one-dimensional source calculation and three-dimensional tunnel analysis. One-dimensional source calculation includes explosive charge and the free field surrounding rock. The input pressure time history for three-dimensional tunnel analysis is obtained from the companion one-dimensional source calculation. The computer program MPDAP-3D incorporated this analysis capability. It is shown that the computer program is a useful tool for the analysis of the structural safety evaluation of underground openings during construction by drill and blasting method.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Progressive collapse analyses of high-rise buildings subjected to abnormal loading such as fires, impacts, earthquakes, typhoon, bomb blasts etc. are intended. However it is difficult to perform collapse experiments of the real scale building to determine the capacity of the structure under an extreme loading events. In this study, collapse behavior of a 15 story RC structure building loaded by external explosion pressures were simulated using Extreme Loading Structures (ELS) software. The standoff distance between the RC building and explosives of 1500 kg was 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 meters. The explosive demolition analysis techniques based on removal of partial support structures following blast scenario was adapted to investigate the transition process of progressive collapse-local damage.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

The response of concrete to transient dynamic loading has received extensive attention for both civil and military applications. Accordingly, thoroughly understanding the response and failure modes of concrete subjected to impact or explosive loading is vital to the protection provided by fortifications. Reactive powder concrete (RPC), as developed by Richard and Cheyrezy (1995) in recent years, is a unique mixture that is cured such that it has an ultra-high compressive strength. In this work, the concrete cylinders with different steel fiber volume fractions were subjected to repeated impact loading by a split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) device. Experimental results indicate that the ability of repeated impact resistance of ultra-high-strength concrete was markedly superior to that of other specimens. Additionally, the rate of damage was decelerated and the energy absorption of ultra-high-strength concrete improved as the steel fiber volume fraction increased.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2019

In evaluating explosion-protection capacity, safety distance is broadly accepted as the distance at which detonation of a given explosive causes acceptable structural damage. Safety distance can be calculated based on structural response under blast loading and damage criteria. For the applicability of the safety distance, the minimum required stand-off distance should be given when the explosive size is assumed. However, because of the nature of structures, structural details and material characteristics differ, which requires sensitivity analysis of the safety distance. This study examines the safety-distance sensitivity from structural and material property variations. For the safety-distance calculation, a blast analysis module based on the Kingery and Bulmash formula, a structural response module based on a Single Degree of Freedom model, and damage criteria based on a support rotation angle were prepared. Sensitivity analysis was conducted for the Reinforced Concrete one-way slab with different thicknesses, reinforcement ratios, reinforcement yield strengths, and concrete compressive strengths. It was shown that slab thickness has the most significant influence on both inertial force and flexure resistance, but the compressive strength of the concrete is not relevant.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 1997

The interaction between cracks and stress wave due to impact and explosive loads is numerically calculated in the study. The interaction and the effects of stress wave are numerically examined with the application of Bicharacteristic Method. This method has been used with confidence for its reliability in reproducing the realistic and physical wave pattern in the complete solution domain. The dynamic stress intensity factor, K/sub I/(t) for cracks under impact loads are numerically simulated and its results are compared favorably with Kalthoff's experimental output. Also the influence of stress wave to the dynamic stress intensity factor for the case of two symmetric holes around cracks are investigated. The results of study are also compared favorably with the experiment and proven to be applied to the structures exposed to impact and explosive loads.