Dynamic Structural Analysis with Short Time History

Equations have been developed for use in the design of structures sustaining all types of superimposed dynamic loads with short time histories. Explosion-type blast waves in an air medium are used to illustrate the procedure for solution of the equations. Particular solutions for blast waves are formulated graphically with the aid of digital computers. In the past, attention has been concentrated almost exclusively on peak values of pressure, and few attempts have been made to incorporate the shock wave's entire history. Because a structure's dynamic response depends not only on peak values of pressure, but also on the characteristics and histories of all related waves, it is necessary to have an adequate description of the shock wave before an accurate loading condition can be predicted. For a designer to proceed with an analysis of a structure under any loading condition, he must have a full understanding of the nature of the real structural responses before attempting simplifications to facilitate procedure. The object of this paper is to provide this understanding in the area of dynamic loads with short time history.