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3 Review of Program Activities
Pages 15-30

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From page 15... ... Therefore, although this group has first-rate technical capabilities, the committee recommends that the contractor base be expanded to include the commercial architectural and engineering communities, as well as specialists in injury prevention, disaster medicine, and technology transfer, especially for the planning phases of the program. The committee's concern is that, as a group, the existing corps of contractors may be concerned mostly with traditional military and defense objectives, which may not reflect the emphasis of the BMSP on nonstructural solutions, injury reduction methods, and improved rescue and recovery techniques. Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... Unfortunately, although nonstructural elements obviously have an important role to play in determining individual outcomes, their random contribution to preventing a collapse cannot be easily included in structural models. (Random factors are discussed in more detail later in this chapter.) Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... Reduced-scale tests of the response of floor slabs can yield much information, but gravity effects cannot be scaled conveniently. Therefore, it may not be possible to determine in a small-scale test if a floor slab would have collapsed onto the floor below and triggered a progressive collapse. Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... Although building a database of responses of many column sizes and shapes would be valuable, a database that could be used to validate numerical models would be even more valuable in the long term. Once numerical methods have been shown to be capable of predicting the observed response, then numerical methods could be used to explore the residual strengths of damaged components. Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... The BMSP program has a unique opportunity to clarify relationships between earthquake-resistant building designs and blast-resistant building designs, especially on a component/subsystem basis. Although there have been discussions in the design community of the benefits of seismic designs to blast resistance, a recent paper comparing the design requirements showed that even a design that meets Seismic Zone 4 requirements may not result in a building resistant to blast effects (Ettouney et al., 1998~. Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... the American Concrete Institute committee (ACI-318) that deals with , , ~ , code requirements for structural concrete has added several requirements for detailing reinforcement to maintain building integrity. Read the entire page →
From page 21... ... Existing Buildings as Test Articles The committee debated the value of using an existing building scheduled to be demolished as a test specimen. On the one hand, existing buildings may offer a technical advantage over purpose-built test structures because they are constructed by typical contractors following the plans and specifications of typical engineers using standards generally imposed at the time of the design. Read the entire page →
From page 22... ... could have an ancillary benefit of improving building performance. Because design features that provide multihazard resistance are likely to generate more interest among designers and manufacturers than design features that promise only blast resistance, multihazard features could ultimately reduce the cost and increase the application of improved building practices and products. Read the entire page →
From page 23... ... Although there was little structural damage to the five story reinforced concrete building, the explosion reduced much of the interior to rubble destroying windows, window frames, internal office partitions and other fixtures on the rear side of the building. The secondary fragmentation from flying glass, internal concrete block walls, furniture, and fixtures caused most of the embassy casualties. Read the entire page →
From page 24... ... Modeling for Injury Prediction The modeling for injury prediction in the BMSP Program Plan appears to be based on a good understanding of the technical issues and tasks involved. However, the committee questions the quality of existing empirical data on human injuries caused by building failures and, thus, their suitability for use in epidemiological analyses. Read the entire page →
From page 25... ... Critical data on blast injuries in buildings include: geographical patterns of injuries and their associations with design features, building materials, and building contents possibilities of escape from, or survival in, an attacked building accessibility to rescuers knowing where to look for survivors Although damage-resistant building designs are critical in preventing injuries from terrorist attacks and other disasters, the ease and rapidity with which trapped or injured occupants can be extricated is also important. Key factors are how easily occupants can be located, whether they are able to evacuate the building, and whether rescuers can safely enter areas of the collapsed structure to render aid. Read the entire page →
From page 26... ... The Blast Mitigation for Structures Program should consider conducting a series of tests on masonry structures, including tests of unreinforced masonry for benchmarking purposes and tests of a range of reinforcement techniques to improve protection. A series of tests on construction typical of long-span buildings should also be considered. Read the entire page →
From page 27... ... The Blast Mitigation for Structures Program should evaluate the key factors affecting the ease and rapidity with which trapped or injured occupants can be extricated from damaged buildings and whether rescuers can safely enter areas of the collapsed structure to render aid. in cooperation with urban search and rescue teams, the program should support simulated rescue and recovery operations to refine or improve rescue techniques. Read the entire page →
From page 28... ... The Blast Mitigation for Structures Program has a unique opportunity to determine how requirements and techniques for earthquake-resistant designs could apply to blast-resistant designs, as well as to identify and assess design features and materials that could improve building performance over a range of hazards (e.g.., earthquake, fire, flood, and extreme wind) that could impact the safety of the occupants. Read the entire page →
From page 29... ... 1999. Blast Mitigation for Structures Program Master Plan, June 1999. Read the entire page →
From page 30... ... 1999. Personal communication from Mete Sozen, Kettelhut Distinguished Professor of Structural Engineering, Purdue University, to Richard Little, director, Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., December 11, 1999. Read the entire page →

From page 15...

... Therefore, although this group has first-rate technical capabilities, the committee recommends that the contractor base be expanded to include the commercial architectural and engineering communities, as well as specialists in injury prevention, disaster medicine, and technology transfer, especially for the planning phases of the program. The committee's concern is that, as a group, the existing corps of contractors may be concerned mostly with traditional military and defense objectives, which may not reflect the emphasis of the BMSP on nonstructural solutions, injury reduction methods, and improved rescue and recovery techniques.

3 Review of Program Activities Pages 15-30

3 Review of Program Activities
Pages 15-30