Effect of blast loading and resulting progressive failure of a cable‑stayed bridge

摘要

Many researchers have carried out experimental and numerical investigations to examine building structures’ responseto explosive loads. Studies of bridges subjected to blast loads are limited. Hence, in this study, we present a case study ona cable-stayed bridge, namely, Charles River Cable-Stayed Bridge-Boston, to assess its robustness and resistance againstthe progressive collapse resulting from localized failure due to blast loads. Three different blast scenarios are consideredto interpret the bridge performance to blast loads. To monitor the progressive failure mechanisms of the structural elementsdue to blast, pre-defined plastic hinges are assigned to the bridge deck. The results conclude that the bridge is tooweak to sustain the blast loads near the tower location, and the progressive collapse is inevitable. Hence, to preserve thiscable-stayed bridge from local and global failure, structural components should be more reinforced near the tower location.This case study helps the designer better understand the need for blast resistance design of cable-stayed bridges.