Time-Response Analysis of Arching Unreinforced Concrete Block Walls Subjected to Blast Loads
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 4
Abstract
The new ASCE59-11 standards currently limit the use of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls in blast-resistant construction, regardless of the wall boundary conditions. This is attributable in part to the lack of experimental and analytical studies focusing on evaluating the response of URM walls under blast when the walls are forced to arch between the surrounding frame members. In this paper, the out-of-plane displacement response and structural stability of one-way vertical arching URM walls subjected to blast loads are investigated. A simple bilinear moment-rotation relationship is developed to simulate the arching wall responses. The model takes into account the masonry material strength, thrust forces, and wall geometry. Time-response analyses were performed using both single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and two-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) models. Both models take into account the rocking phenomenon and second-order effects. Responses generated by both models were validated using experimental data reported previously. For preliminary design, performance charts were developed to correlate the effects of the wall slenderness ratio, masonry strength, and block size to the wall response under different levels of blast loads. The developed model and charts can be used as simple and quick calculation tools to estimate the required thickness, height, and strength of the wall under an expected blast threat when hardening of URM walls is necessary, with arching being considered as one of the alternatives.
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Acknowledgments
The following organizations are gratefully acknowledged for their support towards the research reported in this paper: (1) the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosives Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI project 06-015TD) for financial support; (2) the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) for conducting the blast tests; (3) the Canadian Armed Forces for use of the test range; (4) the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); (5) the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA) for donating the masonry blocks; (6) the Canada Masonry Design Center (CMDC) for wall construction; and (7) the Center for Effective Design of Structures (CEDS) at McMaster University [funded through the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF), a program of the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI)] for financial support.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 4 • April 2014
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 22, 2012
Accepted: Jun 12, 2013
Published online: Jun 15, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2014
Discussion open until: May 12, 2014
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