Blast resistance of externally prestressed RC Beam: A theoretical approach

•Combined elasto-viscoplastic rate-sensitive model with improved layered-section method.•Predicted dynamic responses of EPC beams subjected to blast loads.•Validated proposed approach by application to existing static and blast testing data.•Discussed three parameters that significantly affect dynamic responses of EPC beams to explosion.•Identified parameters that should be balanced to achieve higher blast resistance in design of EPC beams.