Experimental and numerical investigations on performance of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive-induced air-blast loading: A state-of-the-art review

Air-blast and ground shockwave parameters, shallow underground blasting, on the ground and buried shallow underground blast-resistant shelters: A review

“…The shock wave then diffracts around the target, subjecting it additionally to loading due to the movement of air particles in the shock wave, a type of loading that is measured by the so-called dynamic pressure, ½ ρu 2 , where ρ = density and u = particle velocity (UFC 3-340-02, 2008). Eventually, if the shock wave duration is long enough, it subjects the object to so-called drag phase loadings that are composed of the sum of the static overpressure in the shock wave plus a drag loading due to the shock wave dynamic overpressure (Anas et al 2021a, 2021b, 2021c, 2021d, 2021e, 2021f). Diffraction phase loadings, that is, those that occur during the time taken for the head of the shock wave to pass over the target structure, are usually higher than those that occur during the drag phase, or than those that occur between the time for completion of diffraction phase loadings and the onset of drag phase loadings (the transition phase).…”

“…Other methods use the fully coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL), smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics coupled with finite element method (FEM-SPH) techniques to develop explicit blast profiles and simulate the air-blast response of the structure or structural elements (Anas et al, 2021; Goel and Matsagar, 2014; Hao et al, 2016). The results obtained through these techniques are highly dependent on element type, mesh size and their accuracy varies with the method of coupling and also the time step (Goel and Matsagar, 2014).…”

“…Furthermore, the response of a structure and its materials under such extreme loadings are generally non-linear, involving complex stress states and are time-dependent rendering available design practices in the current design standards/manuals not necessarily lead to the reliable prediction of the structural response (Hao et al, 2016). Blast engineering being a specialised field of structural engineering, most of the structural engineers are little aware of the phenomenon of the blast, blast loading and response of the structures subjected to the blast (Anas et al, 2021a; 2021b; 2021c; 2021d; 2021e; 2021f). In the present study, it is attempted to provide a detailed review of the blast loading on structures and blast-resistant shelters that could be useful for structural engineers and sectional committee members responsible for drafting the blast design standards/manuals.…”

A Brief Report on the Explosion on 13 June 2021 at a Market in Shiyan, China

“…It is therefore legitimate to question the effect of the explosion on the surrounding buildings, particularly with respect to the safety and construction materials used in that area. To a large extent, because of recurrent explosions in metropolitan areas, the blast community is increasing its attention on the protection of existing buildings, which are often built with the most common construction materials, such as masonry or poorly reinforced concrete [32][33][34]. From the blast-response standpoint, unreinforced masonry (as in the case reported herein) has a very brittle behavior under blast loads [15,34], which arguably explains the considerable quantity of debris generated during the explosion, as well as a large number of victims in the surrounding.…”

“…To a large extent, because of recurrent explosions in metropolitan areas, the blast community is increasing its attention on the protection of existing buildings, which are often built with the most common construction materials, such as masonry or poorly reinforced concrete [32][33][34]. From the blast-response standpoint, unreinforced masonry (as in the case reported herein) has a very brittle behavior under blast loads [15,34], which arguably explains the considerable quantity of debris generated during the explosion, as well as a large number of victims in the surrounding. On the contrary, cast masonry can supply a high level of explosion protection due to the ductility of reinforcement.…”