Blast Effects and Vulnerability of Building Structures from Terrorist Attack

Buildings and people working within the buildings are becoming increasingly vulnerable to terrorist attack. The use by terrorist groups of large vehicle bombs in areas accessed by the public is a matter of great concern. Government authorities worldwide are taking a closer look at the safety of infrastructure, energy supply, nuclear power plants and buildings. Structural engineers today need guidance on how to design structural systems to withstand various acts of terrorism and threats. This paper addresses the potential effects of a postulated bomb blast and identification of protective measures to mitigate risk. It briefly discusses background and definitions for explosive loads, general principles of blast loads and response prediction, and some recommendations for protective design of building structures.