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ABSTRACT
Demolition works using explosive charges has always been spectacular because of the rapidity that transforms an imposing solid structure into a pile of rubble and a cloud of dust. Behind such works are however many calculations to establish the correct amount of explosive used to destroy structural elements, to estimate the unfavorable effects and to find proper solutions for their mitigation. Furthermore, special attention should be paid to choose the right elements to be destroyed, the convenient order and timeframe for each one. Thus, for each structure must be identified those failure mechanisms that uses a minimum amount of outside energy (energy blast) to precisely destroy certain elements, to induce a state of instability in the structure which, amplified by its own weight, leads to collapse.
This paper presents a study on failure mechanisms for an industrial building. The reinforced concrete structure is analyzed using several scenarios of column removal on the ground level (one, two or three columns); the model setup and the results are achieved using Applied Elements Method. For each scenario, it is studied the structure capacity to redistribute the additional efforts that occurs. In order to validate the results, an experimental test was carried out on a real full-scale industrial building, a marginal column being destroyed using explosives. The experiment aimed to measure the vertical displacement of the node above the column destroyed and comparing it to the values obtained by simulation. The results show that it may be determined, by numerical method, suitable order and proper delay time intervals in case of an explosive demolition, aiming to achieve different demolition effects on the structure.
Keywords: controlled demolition, failure mechanism, Applied Element Method
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INTRODUCTION
The use of explosive for building controlled demolition has grown in the last period, being a useful tool for remodeling urban areas. The benefits of this type of demolition, applied especially for tall buildings, recommend it to be a widespread method. A controlled demolition successfully completed involves a qualified approach in the design phase, based on rigorous calculation and experience, having as main goal achieving a favorable failure mechanism. Particularities of each building (type of structure, materials, shapes and size, location, neighboring buildings and distances to them), different conditions in...