Analysis Guidance for Cross-Laminated Timber Construction Exposed to Airblast Loading

Buildings constructed for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) often have to meet blast-resistance requirements to mitigate the potential effects of terrorism. Terrorism is also a growing threat for civilian buildings (e.g., iconic structures, corporate headquarters, etc.), necessitating more building designers to incorporate blast resistance into their designs. The emergence of mass timber construction, and cross-laminated timber (CLT) in particular, offers a sustainable building material alternative that can also meet blast-resistance criteria in many circumstances.

This paper provides an overview of the Protective Design Center Technical Report (PDC-TR) 18-02, released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help engineers analyze and design CLT structures for blast loads. Click here for more on Mass Timber / CLT Protective Design.