Abstract
The paper seeks to explore some aspects of the current state of knowledge on progressive collapse in the technical literature covering blast loads and structural analysis procedure applicable to reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The paper describes the progressive collapse analysis of a commercial RC building located in the city of Riyadh and subjected to different blast scenarios. A 3-D finite element model of the structure was created using LS-DYNA, which uses explicit time integration algorithms for solution. Blast loads were treated as dynamic pressure-time history curves applied to the exterior elements. The inherent shortcomings of notional member removal have been taken care of in the present paper by simulating the damage of structural elements through the use of solid elements with the provision of element erosion. Effects of erosion and cratering are studied for different scenarios of the blast.