Selecting critical elements

The complete analysis of a structure subjected to an explosion can be relatively complex and costly to carry out, and not necessarily relevant from a safety point of view. This is because, as part of a performance-based approach to structural behavior, the safety objectives assigned to the structure need to be explicitly defined. It is often pointless to study parts of a building that are unoccupied and contribute little or nothing to the safety of the whole. Selecting the critical elements of the structure thus makes it possible to significantly reduce the scope of the analysis in relation to the previously defined safety objectives.

The essential objectives in terms of explosion safety are listed below in descending order of priority,...