This paper presents a finite element based approach to predict the response of glass fibre reinforced composite panels subjected to an explosive blast load. The panels under study are intended to be modular lightweight cladding units, whose primary function is to provide blast resistance in addition to the usual functional cladding requirements, for existing and new buildings.

The approach used here is a time stepping implicit Eulerian procedure, which satisfies the equations of equilibrium and the equations of motion. A quasi-static non-linear approach is also used here.

The constitutive behaviour of the sandwich construction materials. and their various failure mechanisms are presented here. and a framework for predicting post-failure behaviour is proposed.

Various element formulations are reviewed and the modelling of the time varying blast wave excitation is discussed.

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