Blast Resistant Design Using Advanced, State-of-the-Art Materials

While the threat of terrorist attacks against buildings and other important structures has increased over the last several years, so has the ability of the design community to mitigate the damage associated with these events in more cost effective ways. By learning from past experiences, taking advantage of advancing engineering capabilities, and using state of the art materials and construction techniques, architects and engineers are increasing their ability to respond to the increased need for security and safety. With the increased focus on protecting the public from terrorist attacks, new materials are being introduced into the construction industry at a phenomenal rate. Several of these materials have shown promise in their ability to resist high explosive loadings while being thinner, lighter, more cost effective and potentially more environmentally friendly than conventional construction. This paper will focus on the possible applications of several of these materials while also discussing additional testing and analysis that the authors believe may need to be done in order to fully understand their capabilities.