Evaluation of Nonlinear Response of Reinforced Concrete Frames Designed According to Earthquake Codes and Subjected to Blast Loading

Reinforced concrete structures are of the most common buildings exposed to vehicle bombs. In this study three typical structures were exposed to conventional and severe blasts. Three, six and ten story buildings with special moment frames designed according to earthquake were considered. Firstly, the local failure of first columns in front of explosion and the probability of progressive collapse were investigated and secondly, overall response of structures under explosion and earthquake was determined and compared. After analyses, it was found that explosions will create more severe consequences in low-rise structures than mid and high-rise structures, mostly due to the destruction of columns and the following progressive collapse. If columns are not damaged locally, there will be less severe responses in the frames due to explosion rather than earthquakes, containing displacement, drift ratio, base shear and plastic hinges. Therefore, major designer’s efforts should be in preventing damage to individual structural elements and preventing progressive collapset.