Blast-induced damage in reinforced concrete buildings: effect of pulse shape variations

A significant number of reinforced concrete structures are constructed without taking into account their susceptibility to explosive events, which can result in severe structural damage and widespread loss of life. Explosions can apparently have various pressure–time histories, referred to as pulse shapes, and these shapes are anticipated to have a significant impact on the dynamic response of structures. This research explores the response and extent of damage experienced by reinforced concrete framed buildings when exposed to predominant blast load pulse shapes of both detonation and deflagration explosion types. Through a series of blast non-linear time history analyses, damage propagation, extent of damage and the most affected structural elements, by way of demand capacity ratio (DCR) at the front facade, are assessed in this study. In addition, the evaluation of building response takes into consideration the effects of infill masonry struts in the in-plane direction of blast loading. The findings reveal a higher demand in structural elements under detonation type blast pulse load, emphasising that the building’s dynamic response, including DCR, is highly sensitive to the chosen pulse shape.