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Influence of beam-column parameter interdependency on SDOF based damage mapping in blast impact region of a high-rise steel building

Extreme hazard loads may occur during the service life of existing structures. The capacity of these structures to successfully absorb such abnormal loads, known as robustness, is in most cases not considered in their design. The robustness depends significantly on the performance of the building columns to sustain plastic deformation and maintain gravity load capacity during and after the loading event. An initial assessment of this performance may be obtained using conventional beam-column theory to develop parameters needed to assess single-degree-of-freedom response of the columns in the manner required in blast resistant design criteria for buildings. This paper presents a study of the effect of near field explosions on the structural integrity of the columns in the blast impact region of a high rise steel building. Beam-column analysis and numerical SDOF simulations are employed to examine the spatially distributed loading and damage response characteristics in column members located along the building exterior facing an external blast. The spatial variation of the distributed pressure is shown to interact with that of the column characteristics resulting from the design process. The interaction leads to a complex process of damage estimation for purposes of damage mapping and subsequent system residual capacity evaluation.

Author(s):

Chris Mullen    
University of Mississippi
United States

Jenny Sideri    
Columbia University
United States

Simos Gerasimidis    
Columbia University
United States

George Deodatis    
Columbia University
United States