# SimEx: A Tool for the Rapid Evaluation of the Effects of Explosions
## 4 Conclusions  
SimEx is a computational tool that allows a rapid and easy estimation of the effects of explosions on structural elements and their damage to people. It has been developed in accordance with the specifications of American standard UFC-3-340-02 and other widely accepted directives published in the open literature. It provides assistants for the calculation of the blast-wave load; SDOF dynamic response, including the calculation of the equivalent structural properties of standardized metal and reinforced concrete beams; thermodynamic properties of explosive mixtures; crater formation; projection of primary fragments; and damage to people. After presenting the main calculating assistants, a preliminary study has been presented to illustrate the full capabilities of SimEx in the assessment of the ability of a building to resist a given explosive charge. The analysis enables the determination of component damage levels for the main structural components, and a further study of the reference case has led to the computation of CW-S damage diagrams for a pillar of the first floor. These diagrams are very useful to provide design guidelines for those facilities that must be protected against explosive threats. Although still under development, SimEx is being successfully used for research and teaching activities at the Spanish University Center of the Civil Guard. Due to its \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline
**Level** & **Type** & **Variables** & **Case 1** & **Case 2** & **Case 3** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{0} & \multirow{4}{*}{Incident load parameters} & \(\Delta p\) (kPa) & 168.30 & 182.50 & 186.80 \\  & & \(I/A\) (kPa \(\cdot\) ms) & 406.70 & 724.40 & 922.20 \\  & & \(d_{\text{real}}\) (m) & 12.17 & 20.10 & 25.08 \\  & & \(\delta_{\text{real}}\) (deg) & 9.46 & 5.71 & 4.57 \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{4}{*}{D damage level indicators} & \(\mu\) (-) & 1.60 & 3.26 & 4.40 \\  & & \(\theta\) (deg) & 0.19 & 0.39 & 0.53 \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{1} & \multirow{4}{*}{Incident load parameters} & \(\Delta p\) (kPa) & 139.40 & 169.50 & 178.00 \\  & & \(I/A\) (kPa \(\cdot\) ms) & 349.90 & 688.10 & 893.00 \\  & & \(d_{\text{real}}\) (m) & 13.20 & 20.74 & 25.60 \\  & & \(\delta_{\text{real}}\) (deg) & 24.62 & 15.38 & 12.41 \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{4}{*}{D damage level indicators} & \(\mu\) (-) & 0.90 & 1.64 & 2.10 \\  & & \(\theta\) (deg) & 0.08 & 0.15 & 0.19 \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{2} & \multirow{4}{*}{Incident load parameters} & \(\Delta p\) (kPa) & 110.20 & 152.00 & 165.40 \\  & & \(I/A\) (kPa \(\cdot\) ms) & 293.00 & 630.50 & 845.50 \\ \cline{1-1}  & & \(d_{\text{real}}\) (m) & 14.71 & 21.73 & 26.41 \\ \cline{1-1}  & & \(\delta_{\text{real}}\) (deg) & 35.31 & 23.03 & 18.78 \\ \cline{1-1} \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{4}{*}{ Damage level indicators} & \(\mu\) (-) & 1.67 & 5.85 & 9.26 \\ \cline{1-1}  & & \(\theta\) (deg) & 0.87 & 3.05 & 4.83 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 5: Incident load parameters and component damage indicators per floor. According to the PDC-TR-06-08 [15], the response limits for hot rolled structural steel can be defined in terms of the ductility ratio, \(\mu\), and support rotation angle, \(\theta\), as follows: B1—superficial \(\{\mu,\theta\}=\{1,-\}\); B2—moderate \(\{\mu,\theta\}=\{3,3^{\circ}\}\); B3—heavy \(\{\mu,\theta\}=\{12,10^{\circ}\}\); B4—hazardous \(\{\mu,\theta\}=\{25,20^{\circ}\}\). The reference case and worst-case scenario are indicated in blue and gray, respectively. advanced stage of maturation, it could also be used in other areas within the Army and Law enforcement Agencies involved in the fight against terrorism and the design of blast resistant buildings and structures. Conceptualization, J.S.-M. and M.V. ; methodology, J.S.-M. and M.V. ; software, J.S.-M. and A.C.; validation, all authors; formal analysis, J.S.-M. and M.V. ; investigation, all authors; resources, C.H. and M.V. ; data curation, J.S.-M. and A.C.; writing--original draft preparation, J.S.-M., A.C. and M.V. ; writing--review and editing, C.H. and M.V.