Design, analysis, and testing of a blast-resistant building façade

Abstract

In a joint endeavor conducted for the US Department of State (DoS) Bureau of Diplomatic Security, K&C has developed curtain-wall technology for US government infrastructure overseas capable of withstanding the threats anticipated from large explosive events such as VBIEDs at close proximity. The analysis utilized high fidelity physics-based (HFPB) calculations based on a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational structural dynamics (CSD) modeling methods. Unlike many similar analysis and simulation efforts, this work was validated by a full-scale explosive test. This provided an opportunity to compare the calculation outputs with test data to determine the efficacy and accuracy of the calculation methods as well as providing indicators for further calibration of the analysis model. This paper will provide description and commentary of the calculation approach as adopted to analyze the structure using both CFD and CSD methods, as well as planning and conduct of the test including positioning of instrumentation and the purpose and nature of data collection. Comparison of the simulation and test data is accompanied by discussion of the most significant discrepancies and areas in which the calculations closely matched the observed calculation results. Finally, conclusions are presented regarding the efficacy of the calculational approach adopted and recommendations presented for future calculations, and testing of conventional structural systems that are to be subject to blast loading of this magnitude.