Safety factor for structural elements subjected to impulsive blast loads

Abstract

Design of blast loaded structures is usually carried out following a deterministic rather than a probabilistic approach. The design load scenario would cover the plausible load conditions (typically some conservative estimate) that a structure would experience if an explosion occurs but the probability that the structure will satisfy the design performances for the considered scenario remains unknown. Applying a performance-based design framework typically requires arduous Monte Carlo simulations, but a probabilistic design could also be achieved by a single structural analysis when consistent safety factors are applied to the load and the structural resistance. Such a factor is proposed herein for the case of components subjected to impulsive blast loads. The dependence of the safety factor on the amount of explosive, stand-off distance and their variability is estimated numerically and provided by means of regression formulas. A design example using the proposed safety factor is carried out and Monte Carlo simulation is used for verification. The results confirm the validity of the proposed safety factor approach and its applicability for the performance-based design of blast loaded structures using the current design practice methods.