• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.897-919
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• 2015

In this study, the effects of ground shocks due to explosive loads on the dynamic response of historical masonry bridges are investigated by using the multi-point shock response spectrum method. With this purpose, different charge weights and distances from the charge center are considered for the analyses of a masonry bridge and depending on these parameters frequency-varying shock spectra are determined and applied to each support of the two-span masonry bridge. The net blast induced ground motion consists of air-induced and direct-induced ground motions. Acceleration time histories of blast induced ground motions are obtained depending on a deterministic shape function and a stationary process. Shock response spectrums determined from the ground shock time histories are simulated using BlastGM software. The results obtained from uniform and multi-point response spectrum analyses cases show that significant differences take place between the uniform and multi-point blast-induced ground motions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.835-845
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• 2012

This paper focuses on the stochastic response analysis of industrial masonry chimneys to surface blast-induced random ground motions by using a three dimensional finite element model. Underground blasts induce ground shocks on nearby structures. Depending on the distance between the explosion centre and the structure, masonry structures will be subjected to ground motions due to the surface explosions. Blast-induced random ground motions can be defined in terms of the power spectral density function and applied to each support point of the 3D finite element model of the industrial masonry system. In this paper, mainly a parametric study is conducted to estimate the effect of the blast-induced ground motions on the stochastic response of a chimney type masonry structure. With this purpose, different values of charge weight and distance from the charge centre are considered for the analyses of the chimney. The results of the study underline the remarkable effect of the surface blast-induced ground motions on the stochastic behaviour of industrial masonry type chimneys.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.613-631
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• 2014

To complement the method of field-scale seismic ground motion simulations by buried blast techniques, the application and evaluation of the capability of a numerical modeling platform to simulate buried explosion-induced ground motion at a real soil site is presented in this paper. Upon a layout of the experimental setup at a level site wherein multiple charges that were buried over a large-diameter circle and detonated in a planned sequence, the formulation of a numerical model of the soil and the explosives using the finite element code LS-DYNA is developed for the evaluation of the resulting ground motion and surface subsidence. With a compact elastoplastic cap model calibrated for the loess soils on the basis of the site and laboratory test program, numerical solutions are obtained by explicit time integration for various dynamic aspects and their relation with the field blast experiment. Quantitative comparison of the computed ground acceleration time histories at different locations and induced spatial subsidence on the surface afterwards is given for further engineering insights in regard to the capabilities and limitations of both the numerical and experimental approaches.