A comparison of blast and earthquake resistant detailing concepts adopted for reinforced concrete buildings

It is the duty of the professionals involved in the building industry to ensure that the buildings are safe and healthy. However, in many instances such as blasts and earthquakes, the building industry has failed to ensure this which led to many casualties among the general public. It is shown in this paper that the present practices adopted for buildings in Sri Lanka would not be sufficient in this respect and further precautions and improvements should be taken for future buildings. The concepts that can be used at the planning stage for the structural form are highlighted. The methods available for improving the ductility of the structures with reinforcement detailing are also highlighted. The cost increases associated with such practices are presented