Strength and stability of steel beam columns under blast load

Abstract A Single-Degree-of-Freedom (SDOF) model is used to determine the effect of axial load on column strength and stability during a blast event. The model, which accounts for the axial load–bending interaction ( P – δ effect) and strain rate effect on the column dynamic response, is validated by comparing its results with experimental data from blast tests on full scale steel columns and with the results of the finite element software LS-DYNA. Maximum displacements and moments obtained from SDOF analysis are also compared with the results of the interaction formulas recommended by the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC 3-340-02) design manual for steel structures. It is shown that the UFC method overestimates the column capacity for ductility ratios μ greater than one, irrespective of the axial load to Euler elastic buckling load ratio ( P / P e ). Also for P / P e  > 0.5, even if μ