Experimental Performance of Steel Beams under Blast Loading
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 26, Issue 5
Abstract
In this study, the dynamic response of typical wide-flange steel beams was experimentally evaluated under blast loading. A total of 13 beams were field tested using live explosives, where the charge size ranged from 50 to 250 kg of ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mixture, and the ground stand-off distance was from 7.0 to 10.3 m. Blast wave characteristics, including incident and reflected pressures, were recorded. In addition, time-dependent displacements, accelerations, and strains at different locations along the steel members were measured, and the postblast damage and mode of failure of the test specimens were observed. The blast load characteristics were compared with those obtained using the Technical Manual UFC 3-340-02 results. The displacement response results were used to validate the results obtained from a nonlinear dynamic analysis based on a single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model. Results showed that the UFC 3-340-02 pressure predictions compare reasonably well with the measured pressure in the positive phase in terms of both the peak pressure and overall time variations. The SDOF model predicted the maximum displacements of beams in the elastic range reasonably well, but it overestimated them in the plastic range.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to gratefully acknowledge the following organizations for their support toward this study: the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosives Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI Project No. 06-015TD), Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Centre for Effective Design of Structures (CEDS) at McMaster University, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for their financial support, the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) for assisting with the blast tests, and the Canadian Armed Forces for the use of their test range. CEDS received funding through the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund, a program of the Ministry of Research and Innovation of Ontario. The writers also appreciate the technical support of Rick Guilbeault and Don Wilson of CERL during the experimental phase of this study.
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 26 • Issue 5 • October 2012
Pages: 600 - 619
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 9, 2011
Accepted: Sep 21, 2011
Published online: Sep 23, 2011
Published in print: Oct 1, 2012
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