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When explosion is a design criterion, this information may be helpful.
Sometimes a structure is at risk of exposure to blast effects because of the nature of the occupancy. For example, a grain processing facility can be at risk due to the concentration of the combustible (and contained) grain dust particulate. Or a chemical plant can be at risk because of the volatility of the compounds it produces. In other cases, a structure can be at risk due to terrorism.
Whatever the nature of the explosive threat, there are usually two major considerations in blast-resistant design and construction: the fragmentation and propulsion of architectural and other building components, which become projectile threats to life safety, and the loss of structural load-carrying capacity and stability. Although the former threat can be an important design criterion, it requires architectural and functional considerations that are not normally related to the structural design. The later criterion, however, is primarily related to the structural design. Therefore, it is the focus of this feature.
There are many elements of blast design that will almost surely be unpredictable, including the nature, location and intensity of the blast. Given this, it is also unlikely that even the most rigorous design concept could ensure that structural damage would be prevented in a blast even. Consequently, it is common in blast design to accept that local structural damage will occur and design against progressive collapse, such as might occur if a column were damaged or even eliminated in the blast. Thus, a common approach by which designed blast resistance can be achieved involves the analysis of the structural system with individual columns removed at a story. Obviously, this requires a structural system with a higher level of redundancy and the potential for loads to transfer to alternative paths.
The good news is, these attributes are very commonly found in steel structural systems.
Here are some other sources of information:
See also our feature Great References > Blast-Resistant Design and Construction.