Reliability of Engineered Basements as Blast Shelters
Abstract
This paper presents a method for predicting the reliability (probability of nonfailure) of basement shelters when subjected to the blast effects of a single nuclear weapon in its Mach region. The method is described with reference to a reinforced concrete basement shelter whose roof slab is the weakest structural component. This is generally the case in weak-walled conventional buildings when the first floor over the basement is at grade and the peripheral basement walls are not exposed but are in contact with the soil. In such basements, partial or total collapse of the slab results in casualties. Casualties would be produced by debris from the collapsed slab, the building above, and by pressure build-up within when the shelter envelope is breached. The objective then is to determine the probability of roof slab collapse and on this basis to determine the probability of people survival. The paper presents the method of analysis and illustrates its application by means of an example problem.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADP001807
Entities
People
- A. Longinow
- J. Mohammadi
- R. R. Robinson
Organizations
- Illinois Institute of Technology