Effect of Urban Building Topography on Structural Blast Load Profiles

In the field of structural blast engineering, understanding the interaction of blast waves with complex urban structures is crucial. Studies have explored how these waves behave in cityscapes, including phenomena like reflection, diffraction, and interactions between structures that affect the blast wave's propagation. A significant challenge remains in integrating these findings with dynamic structural load analysis, crucial for urban blast design. This study aims to analyze blast wave behaviors and overpressure profiles in urban settings which can lead to unique and intensified blast effects. Firstly, a qualitative computational fluid dynamics-based investigation of the 2020 Nashville explosion, caused by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in a dense commercial district, was presented to demonstrate complex wave patterns in urban explosions. Secondly, a parametric study extending from this event was conducted to quantitatively elicit nonconventional blast loading patterns and load profiles on building surfaces considering different charge placements. This comprehensive approach seeks to expand on the understanding of blast loading on urban structures and its comparison to traditional scenarios to highlight the importance of dedicated blast quantification in urban protective building design.