Experimental overpressures inside a masonry box subjected to external blast loading

CODINA R.; AMBROSINI D.

Poznan

Congreso; 5th International Conference on Protective Structures; 2018

International Association of Protective Structures (IAPS)

Explosive charges have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to accidental or intentional events involving important structures which have occurred around the world. The activities related to terrorist attacks have increased and, unfortunately, the current trend suggests that they will continue to rise in the future. In relation to the design of structures subjected to blast loadings there are still many uncertainties in the specialized technical literature. Particularly, the overpressures and impulses inside constructions are difficult to estimate due to many reflections of the shock wave. The main objective of this work is to study the propagation of the blast wave inside constructions subjected to external loadings. With this purpose, an experimental study was performed using a masonry box with reinforced concrete beams and columns and a typical window. Moreover, numerical models are developed in order to compare results. Explosive charges of equivalent 1 to 5 kg of TNT and elevated 1m above the ground were detonated at three distances of the window. Overpressures were measured at five points inside and outside the box. The obtained results are useful to calibrate numerical codes and empirical formulas.