In this study, the effect of the column’s cross-section shape as a design parameter on resisting blast loads in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings was numerically investigated. To try to give a guideline to the design engineer about the best columns’ cross-section shape when designing an RC building that is more vulnerable to blast loads.
The finite element (FE) analysis was conducted for three RC buildings with different cross-section shapes of columns but with the same area and axial load capacity. The FE analysis was carried out using the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) in Abaqus/CAE software. The effect of the blast loads resulting from the explosion of 50, 150, and 500 kg TNT bombs with a standoff distance of 3 m on all buildings was investigated.
The Findings showed that large TNT charges of more than 500 kg with a standoff distance of less than 3 m cause catastrophic damage to RC columns of any cross-section-shaped. Also, RC columns with circular cross-section shapes have the best resistance to blast loads, while RC columns with rectangular sections have the worst resistance.
The CEL technique was used to investigate the effect of columns’ cross-section shape on resisting blast loads on full-scale RC buildings. Also, this research gives a guideline to the design engineer about the best columns’ cross-section shape when designing an RC building that is more vulnerable to blast loads.
