Engineering Models for Damage to Structural Components Subjected to Internal Blast Loading

Algorithms are needed for fast-running engineering models that predict damage levels of structural members subject to the blast environment from high explosives detonated inside a building (i.e., internal explosions). These algorithms will be used as part of vulnerability analyses that quickly assess building blast damage from internal explosion scenarios associated with terrorist threats, mission planning, and determining collateral damage. During Phase I, the outline was developed for a comprehensive, multi-step algorithm to achieve this purpose called the Fast-Running Internal Damage Assessment Methodology (FRIDAM). Also, the accuracy and run-times were significantly improved for single-degree-of-freedom analyses, which is a primary part of the FRIDAM methodology to determine structural component damage. This work was commercialized into the Vulnerability Assessment Protection Option (VAPO) 4.0 code. Fast-running prediction methods will be developed for more steps in the FRIDAM approach during Phase II, including steps to determine localized shear/breach response for internal building components from close-in explosive loading, to estimate injuries to building occupants from failed components, and to model blast propagation through failed room surfaces. Also, this work will be implemented into a testbed version of the VAPO code to enhance its commercialization potential.