Blast Resistant Design of Commercial Buildings

TLDR

Designing public buildings for blast life safety has gained renewed focus, yet conventional approaches that rely on modest structural upgrades and a buffer zone are impractical in dense urban settings where the threat may be within the building perimeter, so the goal shifts to containing damage near the blast and preventing progressive collapse. This study examines the blast‑resistant design of a typical eight‑story reinforced‑concrete frame in UBC seismic zone 1, focusing on floor slabs, columns, facades, atrium areas, and windows to prevent progressive collapse. The authors propose design modifications that reduce occupants’ exposure to extreme blast pressures while enhancing ductility and structural response characteristics.

Abstract

The design and construction of public buildings to provide life safety in the face of explosions is receiving renewed attention from structural engineers. Existing blast design approaches call for modest enhancements in structural design coupled with a buffer zone surrounding the building. This highly effective approach is only feasible where a keep-out zone is available and affordable. For many urban settings the proximity to unregulated traffic brings the terrorist threat to or within the perimeter of the building. For these structures, blast protection has the more modest goal of containing damage in the immediate vicinity of the explosion and the prevention of progressive collapse. The present paper considers the design features of a typical eight-story reinforced-concrete frame structure in Uniform Building Code seismic zone 1 (International 1991). It addresses the design of floor slabs, columns, facades, atrium areas, and windows and the prevention of progressive collapse in the blast environment. The paper presents design modifications that may limit the occupants' exposure to extreme blast pressures and provides details that improve ductility and structural response characteristics.