Blast response of Glass Facades

Retrofit for blast effect mitigation in the event of a terrorist bombing attack

Master thesis (2017)

Authors

Contributors

R. Nijsse (mentor)
J. Weerheijm (mentor)
K.C. Terwel (mentor)
A. van Doormaal (mentor)
H. Kraaijenbrink (mentor)
Department
Structural Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 De Haan, S.F.
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Published Date

20-04-2017

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Faculty

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Department

Structural Engineering

Abstract

The number of terrorist attacks on public places has substantially grown over the past two decades. More than half of these attacks were bombings. Past bombing events have shown that 45% of the injuries is caused by glass breakage. . The building engineering practice could help reducing the consequences, by retrofitting glass facades to mitigate blast- effects at potential target locations. The thesis presents a model to analytically obtain the blast capacity of a rectangular laminated glass plate in the pre- and post- breakage phase of response. Based on analysis of the integral facade of case study De Rotterdam, a retrofit strategy of controlled failure is proposed. Finally, suitable design concepts are presented.