Response of Shallow-Buried Structures to Blast Loads,

Abstract : Hardness levels of shallow-buried structures for vulnerability studies are primarily obtained from calculations using an undamped single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) elastic-plastic model. Recent and past tests on buried structures have shown that the response has, in general, been overpredicted by both the SDOF model and by more exact analyses. In fact, no fully buried concrete structure has collapsed when exposed to simulated or actual nuclear airblast loading, with a number of structures retaining their protective capability at overpressures higher than their predicted collapse load. (Author)