Research and Development

Blast Test Planning, Support, and Design

Services/Work Provided:

• Blast-resistant Design
• Test Planning, Performance and Documentation
• Design/Construct Test Support Structures
• Construction Documents

Description:

K&C has designed and constructed facilities and support structures to perform blast effects testing on different types of walls, columns, and other structural and non-structural (e.g. curtain walls) components. The support structures are expected to perform well in repeated blast effects tests. Four of them are shown to the left.

Enhanced Blast Resistance of Masonry Walls

Services/Work Provided:

• Test planning including design of test specimens, support structures, and charge sizing
• Test supervision and documentation
• Evaluation of protection concepts and devices
• Validation tests (to certify capability)
• Design Drawings and Cost Estimates for testing

Description:

K&C has provided testing services for clients including the testing of commercial off the shelf products in order to enhance the blast resistance of masonry walls.  Products were tested in a setup that provided a side-by-side comparison of the wall’s response before and after retrofit.  A typical test result is pictured to the left, where an unmodified cement brick masonry wall is obliterated causing debris to be thrown into the interior space.  However the same wall retrofit with a polymer panel placed over its interior face prevents debris from entering.

K&C has also developed other forms of retrofit to enhance the blast resistance of existing masonry walls (e.g. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer).  The CFRP may be added to either or both of the faces of the wall to enhance the blast resistance.  One of K&C’s analytic models to the left demonstrates the capability of such a retrofit.