Finite Element Analysis-Based Blast Performance Evaluation for Reinforced Concrete Columns with Shear and Flexure Failure Modes

Blast loads have significantly damaged non-ductile reinforced concrete building structures with seismically deficient column details, which have lower shear capacity than the building structures with the current code-required details. This paper aims to evaluate the blast performance of non-ductile (shear-governed) and ductile (flexure-governed) RC columns using ductility- and residual capacity-based performance limits. To accomplish this research goal, the shear- and flexure-governed RC column models were developed using a finite element method and validated with previous experimental results. The efficient blast modeling method representing the reflected and incident waves was implemented in the validated column models, and these were simulated under various blast loading scenarios. The blast-induced responses for each column were investigated and utilized to determine the performance levels using the two different performance limits. The flexure-governed column model has higher performance levels than the shear-governed column model because of the lower ductility capacity of the shear-governed column model. The residual capacity-based performance level of the shear-governed column was underestimated compared to the ductility-based limits specified in a current design code.