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

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.503-510
• /
• 2020

Concrete dams are important structures due to retaining amount of water on their reservoir. So such kind of structures have to be designed against static and dynamic loads. Especially considering on critical importance against blasting threats and environmental safety, dams have to be examined according to the blast loads. This paper aims to investigate structural response of concrete gravity dams under blast loads. For the purpose Sarıyar Concrete Gravity Dam in Turkey is selected for numerical application with its 85 m of reservoir height (H), 255 m of reservoir length (3H), 72 m of bottom and 7 m of top widths. In the study, firstly 3D finite element model of the dam is constituted using ANSYS Workbench software considering dam-reservoir-foundation interaction and a hydrostatic analysis is performed without blast loads. Then, nearly 13 tons TNT explosive are considered 20 m away from downstream of the dam and this is modeled using ANSYS AUTODYN software. After that explicit analyses are performed through 40 milliseconds. Lastly peak pressures obtained from analyses are compared to empirical equations in the literature and UFC 3-340-02 standard which provide unified facilities criteria for structures to resist the effects of accidental explosions. Also analyses' results such as displacements, stresses and strains obtained from both hydrostatic and blasting analysis models are compared to each other. It is highlighted from the study that blasting analysis model has more effective than the only hydrostatic analysis model. So it is highlighted from the study that the design of dams should be included the blast loads.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.5 no.5
• /
• pp.493-512
• /
• 2017

Blast loads may considerably affect the response of structures. In previous years, before computer analysis programs, the parameters of blast effects were calculated with empirical methods, consequently some researchers had proposed equations to find out the phenomenon. In recent year's computer analysis programs have developed already, so detailed solutions can be made numerically. This paper describes the blasting response of the structures using numerical and empirical methods. For the purpose, a reinforced concrete retaining wall is modelled using ANSYS Workbench software, and the model is imported to ANSYS AUTODYN software to perform explicit analyses. In AUTDYN software, a sum of TNT explosive is defined 5,5 m away from the wall and solution is done. Numerical results are compared with those of obtained from empirical equations. Similar study is also considered for equal explosive which is the 4 m away from the wall. The results are represented by graphics and contour diagrams of such as displacements and pressures. The results showed that distance of explosive away from the wall is highly affected the structural response of it.

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

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.17-29
• /
• 2019

The present study aims to present a comprehensive understanding of the performance of neighboring multi-story buildings with different dynamic characteristics under blast loads. Two different scenarios are simulated in terms of explosion locations with respect to both buildings. To investigate the effect of interaction between the neighboring buildings in terms of the induced responses, the separation gap is set to be sufficiently small to ensure collisions between stories. An adequately large separation gap is set between the buildings to explore responses without collisions under the applied blast loads. Several blast loads with different peak pressure intensities are employed to perform the dynamic analysis. The finite-element toolbox Computer Aided Learning of the Finite-Element Method (CALFEM) is used to develop a MATLAB code to perform the simulation analysis. The dynamic responses obtained in the scenarios considered herein are presented comparatively. It is found that the obtained stories' responses are governed mainly by the location and intensity of the applied blast loads, separation distances, and flexibility of the attacked structures. Moreover, explosions near a light and flexible building may lead to a significant decrease in blast resistance because explosions severely influence the dynamic responses of the building's stories.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.209-224
• /
• 2022

In this study, the numerical analysis model of π-beam explosion is established to compare and analyze the failure modes of the π-beam under the action of explosive loads, thus verifying the accuracy of the numerical model. Then, based on the numerical analysis of different protection forms of π beams under explosive loads, the peak pressure of π beam under different protection conditions, the law of structural energy consumption, the damage pattern of the π beam after protection, and the protection efficiency of different protective layers was studied. The testing results indicate that the pressure peak of π beam is relatively small under the combined protection of steel plate and aluminum foam, and the peak value of pressure decays quickly along the beam longitudinal. Besides, as the longitudinal distance increases, the pressure peak attenuates most heavily on the roof's explosion-facing surface. Meanwhile, the combined protective layer has a strong energy consumption capacity, the energy consumed accounts for 90% of the three parts of the π beam (concrete, steel, and protective layer). The damaged area of π beam is relatively small under the combined protection of steel plate and aluminum foam. We also calculate the protection efficiency of π beams under different protection conditions using the maximum spalling area of concrete. The results show that the protective efficiency of the combined protective layer is 45%, demonstrating a relatively good protective ability.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.389-408
• /
• 2022

Residual capacity is defined as the load carrying capacity of an RC column after undergoing severe damage. Evaluation of residual capacity of RC columns is necessary to avoid damage initiation in RC structures. The central aspect of the current research is to propose an empirical formula to estimate the residual capacity of RC columns after undergoing severe damage. This formula facilitates decision making of whether a replacement or a repair of the damaged column is adequate for further use. Available literature mainly focused on the simulation of explosion loads by using simplified pressure time histories to develop residual capacity of RC columns and rarely simulated the actual explosive. Therefore, there is a gap in the literature concerning general relation between blast damage of columns with different explosive loading conditions for a reliable and quick evaluation of column behavior subjected to blast loading. In this paper, the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) technique is implemented to simulate high fidelity blast pressure propagations. LS-DYNA software is utilized to solve the finite element (FE) model. The FE model is validated against the practical blast tests, and outcomes are in good agreement with test results. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) method is utilized to derive an analytical formula. The analytical formula predicts the residual capacity of RC columns as functions of structural element parameters. Based on intensive numerical simulation data, it is found that column depth, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, concrete strength and column width have significant effects on the residual axial load carrying capacity of reinforced concrete column under blast loads. Increasing column depth and longitudinal reinforcement ratio that provides better confinement to concrete are very effective in the residual capacity of RC column subjected to blast loads. Data obtained with this study can broaden the knowledge of structural response to blast and improve FE models to simulate the blast performance of concrete structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.349-365
• /
• 2014

The dynamic response of structures under extremely short duration dynamic loads is of great concern nowadays. This paper investigates structures' response as well as the associated structural damage to explosive loads considering and ignoring the supporting soil flexibility effect. In the analysis, buildings are modeled by two alternate approaches namely, (1) building with fixed supports, (2) building with supports accounting for soil-flexibility. A lumped parameter model with spring-dashpot elements is incorporated at the base of the building model to simulate the horizontal and rotational movements of supporting soil. The soil flexibility for various shear wave velocities has been considered in the investigation. In addition, the influence of variation of lateral natural periods of building models on the obtained response and peak response time-histories besides damage indices has also been investigated under blast loads with different peak over static pressures. The Dynamic response is obtained by solving the governing equations of motion of the considered building model using a developed Matlab code based on the finite element toolbox CALFEM. The predicted results expressed in time-domain by the building model incorporating SSI effect are compared with the corresponding model results ignoring soil flexibility effect. The results show that the effect of surrounding soil medium leads to significant changes in the obtained dynamic response of the considered systems and hence cannot be simply ignored in damage assessment and response time-histories of structures where it increases response and amplifies damage of structures subjected to blast loads. Moreover, the numerical results provide an understanding of level of damage of structure through the computed damage indices.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.75 no.5
• /
• pp.607-620
• /
• 2020

A numerical study is carried out to assess the dynamic response and damage level of one- and two-way reinforced concrete (RC) panels subjected to explosive loads by using finite element LS-DYNA software. The precision of the numerical models is validated with the previous experimental test. The calibrated models are used to conduct a series of parametric studies to evaluate the effects of panel wall dimensions, concrete strength, and steel reinforcement ratio on the blast-resistant capacity of the panel under various magnitudes of blast load. The results are used to develop pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams corresponding to the damage levels defined according to UFC-3-340-02 manual. Empirical equations are proposed to easily construct the P-I diagrams of RC panels that can be efficiently used to assess its safety level against blast loads.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.70-79
• /
• 2020

The offshore installation units may be subjected to various accidental loads such as collision from supply vessels, impact from dropped objects, blast load from gas explosion and thermal load from fire. This paper deals with the design and strength evaluation method of the stiffened plate structures in response to a blast load caused by a gas explosion accident. It is a comprehensive review of various items used in actual project such as the size and type of the explosive loads, general design procedure/concept and analysis method. The structural analyses using simple analysis methods based on SDOF model and nonlinear finite element analysis are applied to the particular FPSO project. Also validation studies on the design guidance given by simple analysis method based on SDOF model have also considered several items such as backpressure effects, material behavior and duration time of the overpressure. A good correlation between the prediction made by simple analysis method based on SDOF model and nonlinear finite element analysis can be generally obtained up to the elastic limit.