Evaluation of the design space for reinforced concrete building components subject to blast loading

Abstract

As the built environment becomes more complex, designers must consider extreme loading when it is necessary to anticipate structural response to rare hazards in addition to the expected loading conditions associated with intended use of a structure. Designing structures to withstand blast loading events can often lead to unnecessary excess material usage. This thesis presents a process of design space exploration utilizing a single degree of freedom analysis for fixed-fixed reinforced concrete beams and one-story single bay reinforced concrete frames subjected to blast loading. This process is used to help understand the relationship between mass, ductility, robustness, and dynamic shear, which are referred to as design objectives for each system. In particular, the effects of geometry, steel reinforcing ratio, and standoff distance are explored to understand their impact on the behavior of each system. Understanding the design space by relating the design objectives, loading characteristics, and structural properties can aid in focusing protective design in the preliminary stages to achieve more efficient designs that ensure safety while minimizing added mass