COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN OF RCC BOX TYPE STRUCTURES FOR BLAST LOADING

Abstract

An Indian Army Engineer in any defence sector, would invariably be called upon to plan, design and construct bunkers for men, hospitals and headquarters, having different levels of blast protection. With the introduction of sophisticated modern weaponry, there is a specfic need to have a RCC structure which can withstand heavy blast loads. As brought out in the gulf war, the only protection for the Iraqi soldiers and civilian population from the bombings were underground RCC shelters. Explosive manufacturing and storing facilities also require a blast resistant structure. Explosive chemicals can also form part of a fertilizer, chemical or a petroleum plant. For defence purposes, the most popular and effective blast resistant construction is the RCC box type structure. Such structures are being widely used in NATO countries for the protection of personnel, equipment and also as explosive storage magazines. RCC box type structures are structures which have its roof, side walls and floor as RCC slabs. Due to the inherent stiffness of the box structure, the structure is able to resist heavy blast loads. Generally constructed as a buried or semiburied 1 structure, these structures can be designed to be safe against large conventional explosions and nuclear attacks....