ABSTRACT
Protective structures are typically made of materials with inherent high mass densities and considerable energy absorption abilities to be suitable and economical to withstand severe impulsive loading arising from blast or impact events. Such designs require some form of dynamic analysis to determine the response characteristics (natural frequency, maximum displacement, reactions, etc.) of elements under consideration. Besides the procedures presented in Chapter 6, the results from the dynamic analysis can be represented as pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams. The P-I diagram is a useful design tool that permits easy assessment of response to a specified load. With a maximum displacement or damage level defined, the diagram indicates the combinations of load and impulse that will cause failure or a specific damage level.
