Review of Handbook for Blast Resistant Design of Buildings, edited by Donald O. Dusenberry: Wiley, Hoboken, NJ; 2010; ISBN 978-0-47017-054-0; 512 pp., $150.

This book is divided into four parts: Part 1 addresses design considerations; Part 2 discusses blast phenomena and loadings; Part 3 is concerned with system analysis and design; and blast-resistant detailing is covered in Part 4. The book, throughout, recommends an integrated approach in which the design professional is part of a team addressing all aspects of threat, protection, and response.

The list of authors includes most of the best known experts in the blast design field. The different sections and chapters of the book are coordinated well, and the seventeen chapters of the work flow logically.

The first part of the book, “Design Considerations,” has five chapters. The relatively short first chapter by Donald O. Dusenberry addresses “General Considerations for Blast-Resistant Design.” Although blast loads are often compared with seismic and wind loads, they are in fact quite different. Because they are of high magnitude and short duration and result in inelastic structural behavior, equivalent static loading approaches do not work well. The performance of nonstructural elements, such as windows, can be as important as that of structural elements. Also, the issue of the information sensitivity of blast-resistant designs is discussed, because if this information is not protected it could be of considerable value to terrorists.

The second chapter in “Design Considerations,” by Robert Ducibella and James Cunningham, is the longest in the book. It begins with a brief review of recent terrorist attacks and potential blast threats, and also sources of accidental explosions. Steps in risk assessment are outlined. Management of consequences and disaster recovery are also important. The design process can involve some difficult trade-offs. The chapter puts considerable emphasis on integration of evacuation, rescue, and recovery systems into the design.

Chapter 3, “Performance Criteria for Blast-Resistant Structural Components,” was written by Charles J. Oswald. Component deformations, rotation angles, and ductility ratios may need to be limited to ensure satisfactory performance in preservation of life, safety, and prevention of collapse. Many of the performance criteria are taken from Department of Defense standards and publications. Performance of blast-loaded windows is also important.

Structural materials such as steel and concrete behave differently when loaded at high strain rates as opposed to standard ASTM material quasi-static testing rates. This is the topic of Chapter 4, “Materials Performance,” by Andrew Whittaker and John Abruzzo. The mechanical properties of structural steel and reinforced concrete under high strain-rate loading are presented, both at the material level and at the structural component level.

The fifth chapter by Curt Betts addresses “Performance Verification.” Verification of barrier and building performance may be through testing, analysis, or peer review. Most of the chapter concerns testing. Vehicle barriers may be tested by ASTM F2656, Standard Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers. Building components may be evaluated through full-scale or model tests or by using shock tube blast simulators.

The second section, “Blast Phenomena and Loadings,” has three chapters. Chapter 6, “Blast Phenomena,” was written by Paul. F. Mlakar and Darrell Barker. This chapter discusses subsonic pressure waves generated by deflagration and supersonic shock waves generated by detonations. A table is provided to determine the TNT equivalence of various high explosives. Bursting pressure vessels and vapor cloud explosions are also discussed. Loadings may be predicted by using empirical charts or through more complex procedures such as computational fluid dynamics.

Chapter 7, written by Dr. Mlakar and William Bounds, covers “Blast Loading” with emphasis on simplified empirical methods. Charts are provided and example calculations are given for blast loads on front walls, side walls, rear walls, and roofs of buildings. Procedures are also provided for calculating blast loads in confined spaces.

The important topic of “Fragmentation” is discussed in Chapter 8, by Kim King. Explosions generate both primary and secondary fragments. Sizes and velocities of fragments and penetration of fragments into different materials, such as steel and concrete, may be predicted.

Once the blast loadings and effects on the structure have been determined, it is necessary to analyze and design the structure to achieve the desired level of performance. This is the subject of Section III, “Structural Analysis and Design,” which has five chapters. Chapter 9, by Robert Smilowitz and Darren Tennant, covers “Structural Systems Design.” Like seismic analysis and design, it is useful to adopt a performance-based design approach that considers inelastic response and acceptable levels of damage. Blast design is different, however, in that seismic effects always encompass the entire structure, but the blast impulse is often localized. Analysis approaches vary from simplified single-degree-of-freedom systems to explicit dynamic finite-element analyses.

The topics of the “Building Envelope and Glazing” are addressed in Chapter 10, by Eve Hinman and Christopher Arnold. Important considerations include providing life safety, preserving emergency egress, and facilitating search and rescue. Various types of building envelope systems are discussed along with their advantages, disadvantages, and vulnerabilities for blast resistant design. Walls, roof systems, and below-grade elements have specific design considerations.

Chapter 11, by MeeLing Moy and Andrew Hart, covers “Protection of Spaces.” These include areas used to isolate interior threats, such as mail rooms, that may be attacked by mail bombs. Blowout panels may be used to reduce interior pressures and the associated structural damage in confined spaces. Stairwell enclosures may be fortified for safe egress, and hardened plenums may be provided for necessary mechanical systems and equipment. The bulk of the chapter addresses the design of safe havens within structures or as stand-alone shelters.

The “Defended Perimeter” is discussed in Chapter 12, by Joseph L. Smith and Charles C. Ellison. Increasing the standoff distance between an explosive and a structure, even by a small amount, may significantly reduce the blast loading. Site planning is reviewed in detail, along with the inevitable trade-offs between protection and functionality. The chapter covers the design of vehicle barriers in some depth and also addresses pedestrian barriers, blast walls, and berms.

Even if a building survives an attack, it may be rendered useless by damage to critical systems. This is the subject of Chapter 13, “Blast-Resistant Design of Building Systems.” First, the loadings on elements such as mechanical systems need to be predicted, and then the isolation systems or anchorages necessary to safeguard those systems can be designed. The protection considerations for various types of systems, such as HVAC, electrical, and communication, are reviewed. Several numerical examples are provided.

Section IV, “Blast-Resistant Detailing,” has four chapters. The first four cover blast-resistant design concepts and member detailing of concrete, steel, and masonry, respectively, and the last chapter covers retrofit.

Chapter 14 on concrete is by Steven Smith and W. Gene Corley. For reinforced concrete, many of the detailing concepts for blast, such as splices and continuity of reinforcement, are similar to those for seismic design. Slabs and beams may develop membrane action under large displacements, and this will generate large support reactions that must be accommodated. Flexural elements should generally be designed for load reversal.

The chapter on steel, Chapter 15, was written by Charles Carter. Under blast loading, steel yield and ultimate strengths may be substantially increased. Much of this chapter consists of two detailed design examples. The important topic of connection design is also addressed.

Chapter 16 on masonry, by Shalva Marjanishvili, discusses both reinforced and unreinforced masonry. Reinforced masonry walls should be designed to fail in flexure and not in diagonal tension shear or direct shear. The detailing of masonry reinforcement is particularly important. Although unreinforced masonry is not recommended for new structures subject to blast loading, it is found in many existing structures. Therefore, this chapter has a section on retrofit recommendations for unreinforced masonry walls, which has some overlap with the last chapter.

The final chapter is Chapter 17 on “Retrofit of Structural Components and Systems,” by John E. Crawford and L. Javier Malvar. Strategies for retrofitting reinforced concrete and steel columns with jackets are discussed. Substantial increases in strength and ductility can be achieved. Various strategies for reinforcing masonry walls are discussed in detail. Other structural elements can also be reinforced, including floors, beams, and girders.

Overall, the book is a valuable contribution to the literature and fills an important need. It would be suitable for use as a textbook for a graduate level course on the topic. It is particularly useful to have example calculations for many of the critical tasks necessary in blast resistant design of a building.