RC Column and Slab Retrofits to Survive Blast Loads

Abstract

Procedures for developing retrofit designs for reinforced concrete (RC) columns and slabs to improve their survivability to blast loads are described. These procedures allow conventional RC columns, even ones designed with little lateral resistance, such as in seismic zone 1, to survive large explosives loads at very close standoffs. The design procedures for blast loads were adapted from those already used to develop seismic retrofits for RC columns but differ because they consider both shear and bending failures and include effects peculiar to blast loads. The effectiveness of the resulting retrofit designs is demonstrated through high-fidelity physics based calculations using the PRONTO3D finite element code and through comparisons to experimental data.