Reduced-scale Testing of Masonry Structures to Explosions

In recent decades, the number of historical and ancient structures exposed to blast loads has steadily increased, either due to accidental or deliberate explosions, such as the archaeological site of Palmyra in 2015 and Beirut explosion in 2020.It is important to protect such assets against blast loading.However, investigating how structures respond to explosions cannot rely solely on numerical and analytical tools.Experimental tests are necessary to enhance our current understanding and validate existing models.Large-scale experiments can only be conducted in specialized testing areas with restricted access, safety concerns, and limited repeatability.An alternative approach for studying the effects of blast loads on structures is to rely on reduced-scale experiments in laboratory conditions.Reduced-scale experiments offer a high level of repeatability, moderate cost, and reduced hazards associated with environmental safety.Presented here is a new design setup for studying masonry assets based on reduced-scale experiments for the rigid-body response of structures.Blast waves and loading are emulated by detonating wires triggered by high-voltage discharges from a capacitor.These experiments take place within a controlled laboratory environment, ensuring both repeatability and safety.