Estimation of dynamic response of structural elements subject to blast and impact actions using a simple unified approach

Glazing facades, concrete panels and other structural, and non-structural, components are used to protect occupants and contents in buildings in the extreme events of blast and impact. The dynamic response behaviour of structural components to blast and impact actions is often analysed by specialised finite element packages, such as LS-DYNA. This type of simulation is often time-consuming and labour intensive to operate and yet the generated results involving inelastic material behaviour do not always match with observations from physical experimentations (which can also be very expensive to conduct). This article presents a unified methodology for providing rapid assessment of the response behaviour of structural components subject to both blast and impact actions assuming linear elastic behaviour. The proposed methodology circumvents the need for a full blown finite element analysis. It could be expanded further to model post-damage behaviour thus making significant contributions towards disaster mitigation. Description of calculation methods ranging from simple hand calculation, two-degree-of-freedom spring-mass modelling and finite element modelling techniques will be covered herein.