Effect of combined blast and fragmentation load on the dynamic response of reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

The current paper presents an improved model for the dynamic response of RC wall to a combined load of blast and fragmentation, as a result of a cased charge detonation. The model considers the damage inflicted by the fragments and their additional momentum, as well as the more realistic blast load. The main aim of the study is to compare the more realistic structural response to existing design methodologies that neglect the fragmentation effects or treat them in a simplified manner. After the model validation, this comparison is done through a parametric study to investigate the effects of various parameters on the results. It is found that the concrete compressive strength, reinforcement ratio, and charge height are not dominant factors for studying the level of the conservativeness of existing methodologies. The standoff distance, cross-section thickness, and casing to charge mass ratio were found to strongly influence the differences between the design methodologies.