Reliability Analysis of RC Columns and Frame with FRP Strengthening Subjected to Explosive Loads

Abstract

Some structures, both military and civilian, might experience explosive loads during their service life. Owing to high uncertainties in blast load predictions and structural parameters, accurate assessment of the performances of structures under explosion loads is a challenging task. For example, a number of experimental studies using fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) strengthening of RC structures have been reported in the literature. Most of these studies demonstrate that FRP strengthening is effective in increasing the blast load–carrying capacities of RC structures. However, significant variations in the effectiveness of FRP strengthening have also been observed owing to the large uncertainties in blast loading, RC and FRP material properties, and workmanship in preparing the test specimens and conducting experimental tests. Very few studies that take into consideration these uncertainties in analyzing the effectiveness of FRP strengthening of RC structures on blast loading resistance can be found in the literature. This study performs a reliability analysis to assess the performance of RC columns with or without FRP strengthening in resisting blast loads. Statistical variations of blast loading predictions derived in a previous study are adopted in this study. To define structural performance, pressure-impulse (