Reliability analysis of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive loading

Inherent in every material is the uncertainty of strength parameters, be it uncertainty in distribution type or distribution variables. In the case of structures subjected to explosive loading, the load itself is very much uncertain, as it is widely accepted that explosive experiment is difficult to predict. With these random effects associated with material, geometry and loading, it is necessary to incorporate them into the analysis in order to have a more realistic estimation of the structural response. This paper presents results from a parametric investigation of the reliability of reinforced concrete slabs under blast loading. Performance functions are set up based on displacement ductility and maximum strain limit-states for reliability estimation. Monte Carlo simulation is used to verify the adequacy of the SDOF representation of the structural slab. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.