Protective design has become a key element in the design of some bridges and buildings, particularly related to the requirement that such facilities offer protection from accidental or malicious explosions. In this paper, the enhancement of the blast resistance capability of reinforced concrete columns using FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) is examined, as a key element in upgrading the protective design of existing buildings and bridges. The paper describes the basic behaviors that need to be considered in blast effects analysis of RC columns for vehicle bomb threats. The ability of FRP to address some of these risks was shown through the analysis and test results presented. Three crucial points are made: (1) assessing the residual capacity of large columns struck by a blast loading involves consideration of the effects of material damage, (2) FRP offers a Remarkable capability to enhance the blast resistance of existing RC columns, and (3) physics-based material models are needed to capture the concrete behaviors engendered by blast loads.
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