Dynamic response of reinforced concrete bridge piers subjected to combined axial and blast loading

Records have shown that bridges designed in accordance to conventional standards are usually unable to resist blast loading. Bridges serve great importance in modern day transportation system as they also form part of the skylines of cities, but the increasing act of terrorism around the world has made these valuable assets vulnerable to attack. This research studies the response of a reinforced concrete bridge pier conventionally designed and subjected to blast loading. Non-linear finite element method using a commercial software LS-DYNA which is capable of simulating real blast scenario problems of large deformations with the aid of Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian simulations and fluid-structure interaction is used. The conventionally designed pier was subjected to near ground blast loading by varying the charge weight and stand-off distance while keeping the axial load constant. The mode of failure of the pier is observed for peak displacement and residual displacement. The results obtained were used to propose methods of retrofitting and repairing the conventionally designed bridge piers to support combined gravity (axial) and blast loading.