Numerical-experimental results are here described, derived from an innovative
experience at both national and international level, related to modelling, designing and
producing steel blast-resistant doors and windows. Their capability to sustain thermal loads
due to fire hazards is additionally accounted for. The activity has been developed within a
collaboration between Wellco S.p.A. and some researchers of the Department of Structural
and Transportation Engineering of the University of Padua, Italy. The study has been
conducted to define and characterize the non-linear response of a large number of doors and
steel framed windows, with the objective of sustaining dynamic loads from explosive hazards
of fixed magnitude, variable design and clearing times. The local overcome in the strength
limit (with correspondent plastic response) and possible formation of plastic hinges has been
critically discussed. Numerical models have allowed for refining first design sketches and
subsequently understanding the real thermo-mechanical behaviour for the investigated
structures. Experimental tests on typical steel doors at 1:1 scale have been performed at the
Laboratory of Construction Materials of the same Department above. Such tests had the
objective of “a-posteriori” verifying the correctness of the already available numerical results,
validating the adopted procedures and correspondingly guaranteeing the doors’ structural
efficiency even under dynamic loads higher than design ones
