LAUSR

When extreme loading from an internal is applied to prestressed concrete (PSC) structures, serious property damage and human casualties may occur. However, existing designs for PSC structures such as prestressed concrete containment vessels (PCCV) do not include features to protect the structure from the blasts. Therefore, the internal blast resistance capacity of PSC structures is evaluated by internal blast tests on bi-directional PSC tubular members. The goal of the study was to obtain the structural behavior data from an internal detonation. The ANFO charges were detonated at the center of the mid-span of the tube specimen with a standoff distance of 1,000 mm. The data acquired included blast pressure, deflection, strain, crack pattern, and prestressing loss. The data are used derive the equations to calculate the required internal blast charge weight to fail a real-scale PCCV and to calibrate a commercial simulation program to be used for internal blast simulations.