Exploratory study on geodesic domes under blast loads

Abstract

This article studies the feasibility of using geodesic domes as expeditionary protective structures, since they are fast-assembly lightweight structures and are able to withstand very heavy loads due to their specific geometry. A 6-m standard International Orginization for Standardization container is used as a benchmark structure for the study, which is developed using the nonlinear explicit code LS-DYNA. The blast simulations were performed with the Load Blast Enhanced option, using the phenomenological Johnson–Cook constitutive model to reproduce the behaviour of steel subjected to a large range of strain rates. The performance assessment of the protective structures under blast loading was based on the evaluation of the associated safety zones inside the protective shelter as well as on the characterization of the potential structural damage. With the additional insights provided by this article, it is possible to identify some of the competitive advantages shown by this type of structures which will hopefully foster new advances in the field.