An Analysis Code and a Planning Tool Based on a Key Element Index for Controlled Explosive Demolition

Abstract


In this study, a demolition analysis code using the adaptively shifted integration (ASI)-Gauss technique, which describes structural member fracture by shifting the numerical integration point to an appropriate position and simultaneously releasing the sectional forces in the element, is developed. The code was verified and validated by comparing the predicted results with those of several experiments. A demolition planning tool utilizing the concept of a key element index, which explicitly indicates the contribution of each structural column to the vertical load capacity of the structure, is also develped. Two methods of selecting specific columns to efficiently demolish the whole structure are demonstrated: selecting the columns from the largest index value and from the smallest index value. The demolition results are confirmed numerically by conducting collapse analyses using the ASI-Gauss technique. The numerical results suggest that to achieve a successful demolition, a group of columns with the largest key element index values should be selected when explosives are ignited in a simultaneous blast, whereas those with the smallest should be selected when explosives are ignited in a sequence, with a final blast set on a column with large index value.