Stress Distribution of Stiffened Slabs Subjected to Localized Friedlander Load

Localized blast loadings are often overlooked during the structural system design process despite their potential detrimental effects. In this research, a set of slab models with semi-rigid boundary conditions on its sides and with variations in geometry and stiffness are subjected to a Friedlander localized blast loading at certain locations. The main system responses that are observed are the transversal deflections at midspan and the internal stresses of the system, particularly the maximum principle stress, minimum principle stress, and the maximum shear stress. Three loading phases are included in the analysis, namely: the positive phase, the negative phase, and the free vibration phase. Analyses are carried out utilizing a numeric approach termed the Modified Bolotin Method. Deflections resulting from various load positions on the set of slab models throughout all three phases are then compared. Stresses are calculated on all slab models with the Friedlander localized blast loading applied at midspan and the results are presented as stress contours that are then compared between each model. Based on the results from this research, adding 2cm to the slab thickness provides a better structural response compared to adding 2 secondary beams to one of the orthogonal directions of the slab.