Sensitivity analysis of blast loading parameters and their trends as uncertainty increases

A sensitivity analysis of blast loading parameters is performed to determine which of the parameters' uncertainty has the greatest effect on the maximum deflection of an aluminum plate subjected to a blast load. A numerical simulation using the Monte Carlo method is used to obtain the ensemble averages of the probabilistic runs. The random variables were given a uniform distribution. Two simplified loading models are used. The first has an instantaneous rise with an exponential decay, represented by the modified Friedlander equation. The second loading model has a linear rise with an exponential decay. Both of these models are simulated with three different blast scaled values, giving a total of six different cases. In addition, the deflection trends due to the loading parameters as uncertainty increases is quantified. Probability density functions of the maximum deflection are also presented. The probabilistic results and trends are also explained using deterministic methods. It appears that the duration time of the loading models is generally the most sensitive parameter to uncertainty.M.S.Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-105)