BLAST LOAD: EXPLOSIONS

AND EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES

LAWRENCE ABLADEY

EXPLOSIONS
The sudden release of potential energy and the rapid expansion of gases.
The released potential energy is accompanied by
heat,
sound and,

high pressure

Expanded hot gases pushes out surrounding

Layer of compressed air is formed in front of the hot gases, called shock
front
The shock front of the blast wave produces instantaneous increase in
pressure
The blast wave lasts for a few tens of milliseconds.

EXPLOSIONS
Pressure generated during explosion reaction is about 30 GPa
Temperature ranges between 3000 to 4000 C
Blast waves are omnidirectional and reflects off surfaces with higher
densities than the travelling medium
Reflected waves have higher pressure than incident waves.
Arrival time: time taken for the incident wave to travel from centre of
detonation to a point of interest
The blast wave has two phases
The positive phase: where blast pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure
Negative phase: where blast pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure

Pressure, P

EXPLOSIONS: Pressure-time History of a

blast wave
Pr

Pso

ta

Reflected Impulse

td

Time, t
t d

EXPLOSIONS: DISTANCE TO GROUND

Spherical (Free air burst)
Very common scenario
Centre of detonation elevated above ground
Pressure is incident pressure

Hemispherical ( Surface burst)

Explosion on ground surface or close to the ground
Blast wave instantaneously reflected
Energy lost due to cratering

EXPLOSIONS: Illustration of an explosion

EXPLOSIONS: blast wave on a concrete

face

EXPLOSIONS: Types of Explosives

TNT (Trinitrotoluene)
ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil)
Explosives can be in
solid
gels and
liquid states

CLASSIFICATIONS OF EXPLOSIONS
Nature of Explosion
Physical: rupture of compressed gas containers, volcanic eruptions
Nuclear: Sudden release of energy through fusion or fission of atomic nuclear.
Chemical: the oxidation of fuel elements such as carbon and hydrogen atoms

Accidental explosions occur in industries or homes

Planned explosions are sometimes controlled explosions used in the mining
industry and demolition of structure.
Planned explosions such Terrorist attacks lead to loss of lives and destruction of
property

CLASSIFICATIONS OF EXPLOSIONS:
Accidental explosions
Goil Filling Station Explosion
June 04, 2015
Circle, Accra, Ghana
Explosion of underground fuel
storage facility when mixed with
flood water
Fire eruption and spreading aided
by the rains and flood
Over 150 lives lost

Destruction of property

CLASSIFICATIONS OF EXPLOSIONS:
Accidental explosions
Explosion at Nsawam
December 24, 2015
Peabo, Nsawam, Eastern Region
Detonating of explosives
abandoned in metallic containers
1 dead and several injured
Over 1000 residents displaced
Destruction to buildings

CLASSIFICATIONS OF EXPLOSIONS:
Planned Explosions
Oklahoma City Bombing
April 19, 1995
Oklahoma, USA
Attack on the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building
Detonation of truck full of
explosives
2300 kg of ammonium nitrate
168 dead, 680 injured
324 buildings destroyed or
damaged

EFFECTS OF EXPLOSIONS ON
STRUCTURES
Blast Pressure
Fragmentation
Ground shock
Cratering
Fireball

FAILURE MODES STRUCTURAL

ELEMENTS
Shear failure
Under high but short duration blast loads
Failure near supports of the structural element

Flexure failure
under low but long duration blast loads
Failure near midspan of structural element

FAILURE MODES STRUCTURAL

ELEMENTS
Cratering
Removal of concrete on the compression face of the elements

Spalling
the ejection of concrete from the back face of a structural member

dominant failure mode in close-in (near-field) explosions

Result of tensile failure
Magnitude of reflected tensile waves exceeding concrete tensile strength
Ejection of fragments called spall

MITIGATION MEASURES
Provide anti-climb measure for walls
Provide vehicular an pedestrian gates
Landscaping barriers
Bollards
Trees
Gullies

Blast Curtains for windows

Blast Doors

RETROFFITING STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Using Steel Jackets
Wall retrofitting systems
Steel plates
Concrete skin
FRP sheets

THANK YOU