Current design criteria and specifications increasingly require specified charge weight and site-specific standoff distance combinations in blast analysis and design of buildings, as opposed to prescribed uniform loadings. Even so, typical air blast calculation methodologies usually do not account for site-specific phenomena that may affect the air blast wave characteristics for high explosives. For example, environmental variables, clearing effects, or alternate methods of calculation may allow for more efficient and cost-effective blast-resistant designs. A brief review is provided of air blast characteristics for high explosives and factors which can influence blast loads applied to the structure. The authors discuss how variables and alternate methods of determining design blast loads may potentially impact design and provide analytical comparisons of calculated air blast loads and arena explosive test data. Real-world examples from explosive testing are provided for comparison and context and relevant key recommendations are presented for design professionals and researchers.
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