Ground Motions and Air-Blast Effects of Explosive Demolition of Structures

Ground motions and air-blast overpressures produced by the explosive demolition of about 27 structures were compared to determine the importance of these effects. To provide background for this demolition method, general design principles were presented along with details of the demolition of a 12-story reinforced-concrete building and a steel girder bridge. Trends in the observed ground-and air-borne disturbances were compared to those expected from rock-blasting and drop-weight impact. Air-blast overpressures can be atypically high, and building impact typically produced greater motions than the explosions.