Abstract Summary
Abstract—This paper defines the methodology of designing Control Room Buildings for Vapor cloud explosion (VCE). Intensity of blast forces has not been standardized. Companies have their own specifications based on internal research relying on the interpretation of damages suffered in real life scenarios. There has been a paradigm shift in quantifying the blast forces over the years. While earlier design was based on equivalent static load approach for a blast force of 21 KN/sq.m, the current norms demand that the design to be based on impulse load that can reach up to 270 KN/sq.m Taking guidance from numerous publications - this paper demonstrates a step-by-step approach by idealizing the various components building as SDOF system, diaphragms and shear wall. A numerical integration approach has been adopted to determine the structural response for the dynamic load. The underlying philosophy is to make the building flexible enough to absorb the energy, and avoiding progressive collapse and retaining the basic integrity of the structure. In other words the building design has to be "Robust". Nonlinear characteristics of concrete strain and formation of plastic hinges at the location of maximum moment are the essential features of this method Keywords—Blast. SDOF, Nonlinear Robust
