When a high explosive detonates at some distance from the structure, the generated hot gas with high magnitude pressure and temperature expand rapidly and force the surrounding air out of the volume it occupies. As a consequence, a high pressure shock discontinuity namely a shock wave is produced. As this shock propagates away from the charge, it may inflict widespread damage to any structure that it impacts on. It is the challenge of structural engineers to improve the blast-resistant performance of the vulnerable structures and design adequate and efficient protective engineering systems against such extreme loading.
Most of studies on the response of plate subjected to blast loadings focus on the transient or permanent deformation without any failure occur. Available methods in the literature for predicting failure response only works for one specific load distribution while distribution of blast loadings could be significantly due to various scenarios. Predictive method are therefore required that can predict the failure response of plates under loading with arbitrary distribution and intensity that are fast to run and accurate.
Conducting the experimental research dealing with blast loads needs to consider both cost and safety issues. Besides, numerical analysis requires a high computational time. Therefore, the given analytical approach provides an alternative for failure response investigation.
This thesis proposes an analytical method to predict failure response of plates under more than one specific loading distribution. Besides, this thesis provides dimensionless I − K diagrams that could quickly determine the potential failure modes a plate will suffer under the given blast loading.
The results of this thesis should be used to guide analytical approach development for the prediction of failure response of plates subjected to blast loadings. The simple method developed in this thesis can be employed for design purposes, especially, at the early stages requiring an understanding of the structural failure response and help to rapid evaluation of the likely damage a structure will sustain in the event of blast.
