Olarewaju, AJ; Rao, K; Mannan, A
In this paper, the response of buried empty pipes due to internal explosion has been studied owing to the capabilities of finite element software, Abaqus Explicit. Using US Army Technical Manual, 1990, blast energies in three different size of pipes namely 0.8m, 1.0m, and 1.2m diameter were estimated for the three commonly used explosives namely 50, 100, 250kg TNT. Response of modeled steel and concrete pipes buried in loose sand, dense sand and undrained clay at different depth were examined. Results of this research has established from a total of fifteen (15) models studied that, given the same type of explosive, as the diameter of pipes reduces, pressures generated increases. In addition, under the impact of surface static loading, at burial depth to pipe diameter (H/D) ratio of 1, pressures, stresses, mises, and displacements are highest at the spring-line and least at the invert of the pipe. Furthermore, at H/D=2, the above mentioned parameter reduces, beyond which no significant responses occurred. Consequently, given the same type of explosive, steel and concrete pipe diameter and soil media, external work and energies generated in concrete pipes is much higher than that of steel pipes and increases in the same proportion as the thickness of pipes reduces. Finally, depth of burial and geotechnical roperties of soil has no significant effect on the response of steel and concrete pipes.