EIS International InfoBook multi-page document

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Sponsored by American Society of Civil Engineer’s Continuing Eod

Defensive Design Techniques Purpose and Background Designing buildings to mitigate the effects of explosive attack is fast becoming a discipline that is required for high risk government and private sector projects. During the past decade, with the growth of terrorism directed towards govern­ mental facilities, structural hardening has expanded from the military arena into the design of civilian commercial facilities. This seminar is intended to acquaint architects and engineers with the basics of this discipline and provide practical solutions for combating the explosive threat.

Though there is little that can be done to stop a determined attacker, there are features that can be incorporated into the design of buildings to enhance their ability to resist the effects of an explosive attack. The primary objective of these measures is to save lives by reducing the chances of catastrophic collapse. Both the architect and the engineer play a vital role in this effort: the architect by making it more difficult for the intruder to reach the intended target; and the structural engineer by limiting the structural damage in the event of an explosion.

The emphasis of the course is on cost-effective methods that minimize the impact on the architectural integrity of buildings and their structural systems. Implementation of such measures early in the design process can result in a building that provide the occupants with a modest level of protection without creating a bunker. Wherever possible, conventional building design technolo­ gies are recommended, including state-of-the-art technologies for reducing the glass hazard.

In addition to addressing no-nonsense ways of enhancing security, this course also provides the background needed for the architect or engineer to better understand the rationale behind the recommendations. Background topics discussed include a discussion of the terrorist threat and a case history of the structural damage to the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Both architectural issues and structural engineering design and analysis techniques are addressed. For the architect, ways to optimize the site plan, building configura­ tion, access control design and internal layout are discussed. For the structural engineer, simple analytical methods are outlined in detail to enable the designer to determine explosive loads and perform dynamic structural analysis.

Seminar Benefits Learn how to:

❖ Enhance the protection of a building without creating a bunker

❖ Reduce the progressive collapse hazard

❖ Perform non-linear dynamic design calculations quickly and easily

❖ Protect building occupants against the hazard of flying glass - Learn more about the structural damage caused to the Murrah building in Oklahoma City - Hear about latest requirements for designing buildings against explosive attack

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