Designing Mass Timber Construction for Blast Loading

SEAoNY Programs Committee Presents:

Designing Mass Timber
Construction for Blast Loading

DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2025

TIME: 6:00 - 8:00 PM

LOCATION: The Center
208 West 13th Street
Room 101 
New York, NY 10011

1 PDH Available

There has been a notable expansion of the use of mass timber construction in North America in recent years. Sustainability and aesthetics are key drivers for mass timber construction, and the robustness of panelized products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) opens new possibilities in protective construction. To better understand mass timber’s performance under blast loading, a series of tests involving various types of mass timber have been performed. This presentation describes the current state of the science related to designing mass timber construction for blast loading. Tests on cross-laminated timber (CLT), mass ply panel (MPP), glued laminated timber (glulam), and reinforced CLT (RCLT) test articles performed to date (or are in the planning stages) are described. Based on the test data, conclusions are drawn, strategies for safely detailing mass timber structures are discussed, and potential changes to guidelines (e.g., PDC-TR 18-02) are proposed. The presentation concludes with defining areas that would benefit from further empirical investigation.

Agenda: 

6:00 PM: Registration and Networking
6:30 PM: Presentation
7:30 PM: Q&A and Networking

Registration Fees:
SEAoNY Members* - $30
Non-Members - $45

*Members must log in to their SEAoNY accounts to receive membership discount on registration.  (Students, did you know student membership is free?! Inquire about free student membership at admin@seaony.org)

Sustaining Members & Corporate Sponsors interested in using their free event registration should email admin@seaony.org for the registration code.

Registration ends Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Mark Weaver is a Principal at Karagozian & Case, Inc. (K&C) with over fifteen years of structural design engineering experience that has largely focused on designing structures to mitigate the effects of blast, impact, shock, and progressive collapse. In his current role at K&C, he leads many of K&C’s applied research and testing programs as well as structural design efforts aimed at developing innovative structural solutions capable of protecting people and infrastructure in the event of malicious man-made and accidental explosion threats. His experience includes both the design of blast mitigation retrofits for existing structural components as well as the design of new window, door, wall, and roof systems. Mark is proficient in performing dynamic structural analysis and uses a variety of analysis methods ranging in complexity from single degree-of-freedom to high-fidelity physics-based finite element models in his designs. He is currently the chair of the ACI 370 “Blast and Impact Load Effects” committee and vice chair of the ASCE “Blast Protection of Buildings Standards” committee.

Event, Cancellation & Photo Policies:

SEAoNY will accept refund requests made in writing no later than Friday, August 15, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Registration fees are not refundable after this date.

By registering for this SEAoNY event, I give consent for my photograph to be taken or presence recorded and possibly used on the organization’s intranet, internet, newsletters, board reports, and other organizational materials as needed. I understand that I am not eligible for compensation for use of my photo and I may not be informed in advance of the specific use of those images.