Prestressed concrete structures under blast loads

The design and analysis of protective structures and structural systems is a complex and challenging task. The need for such structures being ever so greater, the paper is set out to challenge the assumption made by the Israeli Defense forces Home front commands directives regarding the use of high strength steel in the construction of structures to be used as sheltered spaces. High strength steel is very often used in the fabrication of prestressed concrete elements, which in turn are frequently used in the construction of large span structures. The use of such technology is therefore effectively barred from taking place when it comes to protective structures in Israel. The use of non-linear energy method based calculation for carrying out a performance based analysis of structures using advanced computer codes has relatively recently been implemented as a method of evaluation of structures ability to resist seismic actions. This paper explores the possibility of using prestressed concrete systems to protect against air-blast loads and to compare such different systems performance to traditional RC structures, using the same method of analysi