Assessment of Ductility Demand-Based Blast Damage to Reinforced Concrete Columns under Blast Loads

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of various structural variables on the blast damage to reinforced concrete columns. The selected primary variables were the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, transverse reinforcement ratio, and axial load ratio, with the analysis based on the ductility demand to assess the blast damage. A parametric study based on finite element analysis was performed to analyze the effects of these variables. The results revealed that an increase in the longitudinal and shear reinforcement ratios significantly decreased the level of damage sustained by the columns under blast exposure, whereas an increase in the axial load ratio resulted in a comparatively lower reduction in damage. Columns with higher transverse reinforcement ratios experienced more severe damage owing to compression-induced brittle failure as the axial load ratio increased. This study provides guidelines for the appropriate selection of design variables to mitigate blast damage in columns.