Analysis and Design of Critical Bridges Subjected to Blast Loads

Abstract

Blast-resistant design has traditionally been considered only for essential government buildings, military structures, and petrochemical facilities. Recent terrorist threats to bridges in California and New York have demonstrated the need to evaluate the vulnerability of our transportation infrastructure. Bridge engineers, however, have not typically considered security in the design process, and most of the current state of knowledge of the design of structures subjected to blast effects is based on the performance of buildings rather than bridges. This paper summarizes the results of ongoing research to develop performance-based blast design standards tailored specifically for bridges. Based on best practices obtained from an international literature review, the paper briefly discusses the incorporation of physical security and site layout principles into the design process. It then discusses the potential effects of blast loads on bridges and provides structural design and retrofit solutions to counter these effects.