Effect of Surface Blast on Multistory Buildings

Abstract

A surface explosion imparts both the air pressure and ground acceleration on structures. Very little literature is available on the effect of a surface blast on structures, especially for multistory buildings. In the present study, the effect of a surface blast on multistory buildings of different heights is extensively investigated by considering the action of the air pressure and ground acceleration separately and both acting simultaneously. For this purpose, four seismically designed reinforced concrete buildings with different heights and fundamental periods are considered. The parameters varied are the standoff distance and charge weight. Responses of the buildings are obtained by the nonlinear time history analysis (NTHA) for the time histories of the air pressure and ground acceleration. The results show that the relative effects of air pressure and ground shock on the buildings depend upon the height of the building and standoff distance. For low-rise buildings, responses are governed by the air pressure effect, whereas for taller buildings, they are governed by the ground shock effect.