Design of Protective Structures Against Blast

Abstract

Some aspects of analysis and design of protective structures are discussed. It is demonstrated that parametric analyses can be used to obtain an approximate model for reanalysis. The latter describes the major phenomena involved in the problem; i.e., those that most influence the design variables. Examples are used to describe the approximations, and an optimization approach is suggested. The suggested design process is based on a multilevel scheme involving a few separate design spaces, each of which contains a class of variables of the same type. The variables are classified as cross‐sectional, structures dimensions, and relative location (distances) variables. Using equivalent charge, ideal load histories and response functions, and the multilevel scheme methods of optimization for each level are chosen. Examples are used to test the suggested approach, which is shown to supply an efficient design tool. Also included is a discussion of possible further use of the approach for different problems.