Rapid estimation of building damage by conventional weapons

Abstract

Due to the shifting paradigms of modern-day warfare, new threats are constantly being identified. Military forces in the world are evolving more efficient ways to operate their assets in the most effective and strategic manner. Many times, commanders on the ground require a quick assessment on the potency of a certain munitions on specific targets. During such situations, time is not a luxury that can be spared for complex and detailed simulations to be performed The objective of this thesis is to develop a code using open-source information and commercially available software to evaluate the degree of damage to a building by conventional weapons. For this thesis, a model in Microsoft Excel will be developed to examine how a warhead will interact with different types of structures. The computational power of MS Excel and Visual Basic will be harnessed to provide the user with a reasonable model of the degree of damage to the building of interest. This model, named Building Damage Program, is based upon the theories employed in the Facility and Component Explosive Damage Assessment Program manual, The Architect’s Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design. and Weaponeering: Conventional Weapon System Effectiveness.