Comparison of the Behavior of Steel Frames under Blast Effects

The performance evaluation of structures, particularly steel structures against blast loads, is of great importance. One important prediction for dealing with destructive lateral forces in structures is the application of structural steel framing systems. In this study, seven samples of lateral load-resisting systems were developed in a five-story steel structure, considering the provisions of Standard 2800. Using ABAQUS and SAP2000 software, numerical analysis was performed on these systems under blast loads. An aerial explosion was considered, with an explosive material quantity of 200 kg in terms of T.N.T, located at a distance of 2 meters from the centerline of the beam-column connection, in a height of 2.8 meters from the ground level. The results showed that in all models, the adjacent column to the explosion source experienced severe deformation, and plastic damage occurred in the connection region. Additionally, the stresses in the beam web and connection plates at the base of the column reached their maximum values. This occurrence was less observed in moment frame models, while special moment frames and intermediate moment frames demonstrated better performance. In various shear wall models, no plastic damage was observed at the base of the adjacent column to the explosion source, and the energy absorption per unit weight of the structure was obtained. Consequently, the special moment frame had the highest energy absorption capacity, and the lowest was associated with the concentric moment frame.