Introduction to

Design of Blast Resistant

Buildings in Petrochemical
Facilities
ASCE, 1997

1
Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength
5. Dynamic Analysis Method
6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations
8. Design Example

2
1. Design Method
1-1 Static Design
U=D+L+B
EX: B (Blast Force) =20kN/m2
Two cases considered.

Pressure Suction
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1-2 Dynamic Design
“Design of Blast Resistant Buildings in
Petrochemical Facilities” ASCE Report 1997

Related Guidelines, Spec. and Code ( sec. 1.3)

 TM5-1300, Structures to Resist the Effects of Accidental
Explosions from the Department of Defense
 ASCE manual 42, Design of Structures to Resist Nuclear
Weapons Effects
 ……

4
Topics
1. Design Method

2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength
5. Dynamic Analysis Method
6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations
8. Design Example

5
2. ASCE Report

• Major- Blast resistant design for

buildings
• Not cover-site plan, hazard reduction
• Objectives for blast resistant design
1. Personnel safety
2. Controlled shutdown
3. Financial consideration

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2-1 Design Process
•Step 1 ~ 5
Provided by Owner
(Other guidance)

•Step 6 ~ 15
Designed by Engineer
(ASCE report)

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2-2 Blast Wave Parameters
•Explosion:
“Sudden release of energy to atmosphere which
results in a pressure transient, or blast wave.”

I0(Impulse) I0(Impulse)

Important!
P so : Peak side-on overpressure
t d : duration
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•Reference data about design parameters
“Because there are no codes or industry standards for
determining what blast overpressures should be used, the
design blast loads are usually supplied by the facility
owner” (page 3-10)

1. Commonly used criteria: SG-22, CIA 1992

buildings spaced 100 feet (30 meters) from a
vapor cloud explosion hazard.
a. High pressure, short duration
Pso=10psi (69kPa) td= 20 msec
b. Low pressure, long duration
Pso=3psi (21kPa) td= 100 msec
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2. Reference loadings
Range 30~60m from explosion source
Pso=1.5~15psi (10~103 kPa)
td=20~200 msec

3. Review of five recent vapor cloud explosion i

ncidents
Range 60~300m from explosion source
Pso=1~5.5psi (7~38 kPa)
Pr=2~12 psi (14~83 kPa) - peak reflected pressure
td=35~33 msec
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2-3 Blast Loading

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12
13
Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report

3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength
5. Dynamic Analysis Method
6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations
8. Design Example

14
3. Types of Construction

•Blast resistant construction-

Objective: to absorb blast energy without causing
catastrophic failure in the structure.
Material: ductility & strength

•Reinforced concrete –
the most suitable and economical

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Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction

4. Dynamic Material Strength

5. Dynamic Analysis Method
6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations
8. Design Example

16
4. Dynamic Material Strength
“Under dynamic loading, materials achieve a strength
increase which can significantly enhance structural
resistance. Structures subjected to blast loads are typically
allowed to undergo plastic (permanent) deformation to
absorb the explosion energy, whereas response to
conventional loads is normally required to remain in the
elastic range.”

•Static design- elastic range

•Blast design- yielding (for economic)

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•Resistance-Deflection function

Function of
Dynamic material
properties
Section properties
Permitted plastic
deformation

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• Deformation Limits
Based on

1. Type of structure or component

2. Construction materials
3. Location of structure
4. Desired protection level

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•Primary methods for checking deformation of
individual members:
Ductility ratio

(y
m)
(ye
)
Hinge Rotation

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•ACI 349, ASCE Manual 58, etc
Primary response – ductility ratio
Secondary criteria – hinge rotation

•ASCE Report
For concrete element
responding in flexure – hinge rotation
responding in shear or axial – ductility ratio

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23
Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength

5. Dynamic Analysis Method

6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations
8. Design Example

24
 5. Dynamic Analysis Method
“Member by
Member”
Member to resist
blast force
•Lateral blast force
Front wall, rear wall,
side wall, roof slab,
roof beam/girder,
foundation

•Vertical blast force

roof slab, roof
beam/girder, columns,
foundation 25
Basic Analytical Model:
SDOF (Single degree of freedom)

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SDOF (Single degree of freedom)
0
Where,
Ma + Cv + Ky = F(t)
M = mass, a = acceleration

Ma + Ky = Ft C = viscous damping constant ,v = velocity

K = stiffness , y = displacement
F(t) = applied force as a function of time

“ In blast analyses, the resistance is usually specified as a nonlinear function to simu

late elastic, perfectly plastic behavior of structure. The ultimate resistance, (Ru) is r
eached upon formation of a collapse mechanism in the member.”

Ma + R = Ft Where,
R = lesser of Ky or Ru

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Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength
5. Dynamic Analysis Method

6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations
8. Design Example

28
6. Design Procedures
6.1 Concept
•Energy absorption
ductile responses, large deflections and rotations
•Safety factors
allowable deformations, increase blast load(not recommended)

•Limit state design

RC: Strength Design Method
Steel: LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design)

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•Loading Combinations
All material types
1.0 (DL) + 1.0 (LL) + 1.0 (BL)
Not combined with earthquake and wind load

•Resistance Function
Nonlinear relationships of “force vs. deflection”

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•Structural Performance considerations

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6.2 Design Process
Step1. Load determination
Step2. Determination of member properties
Step3. Model representation
Step4. Trial member selection
Step5. Dynamic analysis
Step6. Deformation criteria check
Step7. Connection design

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6.3 Foundation Design
Principal: Rigidity, continuity
Suggestion: tied-beam footing, mat, battered pile
foundation
Two approaches
1. Equivalent static- simple but overly
conservation, always used.
2. Dynamic- very complex but more realistic

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•For Equivalent Static Design Method
Considering : maximum soil bearing & passive pressures
Safety factors
1.2 for vertical loads on soil/pile
1.5 for lateral loads on vertical piles w/ or w/o passive resistance
1.2 for lateral loads on battered piles w/o passive resistance
2.0 for lateral loads on battered piles w/ passive resistance
1.0 for lateral loads resisted by frictional soil resistance
1.5 for lateral loads(in excess of friction) resisted by passive resistance
1.2 for overturning

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Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength
5. Dynamic Analysis Method
6. Design Procedures

7. Ancillary & Architectural

Considerations
8. Design Example
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7. Ancillary & Architectural Co
nsiderations
•Door-no weaker than walls, floors, roofs,…
Definition(equivalent static pressure)
Low-Range Door : <3 psi (21 kPa)
Mid-Range Door : 3~25 psi (21~172 kPa)
High-Range Door : >25 psi (172 kPa)
“For elastic behavior, an applied static force is half that of an ap
plied dynamic force of infinitely long duration.”
•Windows, utility openings…….

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Topics
1. Design Method
2. ASCE Report
3. Types of Construction
4. Dynamic Material Strength
5. Dynamic Analysis Method
6. Design Procedures
7. Ancillary & Architectural Considerations

8. Design Example

37
8. Design Example
See ASCE.XLS

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