Advanced structural design for the construction of pressure- and temperature-resistant buildings

Abstract

Explosive loads from internal and external blasts occurring simultaneously and continuously cause severe structural damage and thermal extremity. Thus, the design of explosion-resistant structures differs vastly from that of typical buildings. For instance, they must be able to withstand dead and live loads, blasts, and extreme pressure and temperature loads. The present research aimed to develop an advanced structural design for explosion-resistant buildings and examine their resistance to three types of explosive loads causing both internal and external damage: the pressure of 300 bar, the temperature of 300 °C, and the pressure of 300 bar combined with the temperature of 300 °C. To achieve the research objective, explosions were simulated before their effects on the primary structural reinforcements, i.e. slabs, beams, and columns, of the five- and two-story buildings under investigation were analyzed in terms of explosion-related parameters using the finite element method (FEM). It was found that the loads from pressure combined with temperature were more destructive to the five-story building than to the two-story building. In addition, the former was more severely affected by the reaction force and reaction moment caused by the simulated explosions than the latter. Recommendations are made regarding advanced structural design for the construction of explosion-resistant buildings.