In today's world, reasonably predictable military operations have been replaced by low intensity conflicts-less predictable terrorist activities carried out by determined individuals or small groups that possess a wide range of backgrounds and capabilities. Because of the threats posed by this evolving type of warfare, civil engineers and emergency personnel face new challenges in designing facilities to protect lives and property and in conducting effective rescue operations and forensic investigations. Addressing these needs, Modern Protective Structures develops realistic guidelines for the analysis, design, assessment, retrofit, and research of protected facilities. After introducing a comprehensive risk management approach, the author provides a general background on explosive devices and their capabilities as well as explosive effects and the processes that generate them. He then discusses the effects of conventional and nuclear explosions. The book subsequently considers the significant design differences between conventional and nuclear loads and between existing design procedures and state-of-the-art information from recent research. It also summarizes existing blast-resistant design approaches and describes the dynamic responses of structural systems to blasts, shocks, and impacts. Additional coverage includes the behavior of specific structural connections, the traditional concept of P-I diagrams, and progressive collapse. The book concludes with a systematic and balanced protective design approach. Tackling the analytical, design, assessment, and hazard mitigation issues associated with short-duration dynamic loads, this book examines how impulsive loads affect various types of buildings and facilities. It provides the necessary material to help ensure the safety of persons, assets, and projects.