Effective Use of New Materials and Methodologies for Blast Mitigation in New and Renovated Facilities by the Armed Services

Since 1993, there have been numerous terrorist bombing attacks toward US facilities located on US or US controlled soil. This fact has motivated government organizations to take a hard look at how their facilities are constructed and what would be the consequences if a device were detonated in the vicinity to damage the facilities and injure or kill the occupants. The armed services have a large role to play in this effort, based on the number and location of installations they own or operate and the threat probability of a future attack. In response, private industry and government research facilities have developed a significant number of innovations in materials and methodologies for building construction and renovation that are now available in order to help mitigate the damage to facilities and occupants as a result of explosive blast. These innovations have been directly and indirectly prompted by the fear of other attacks on US soil, plus the recognition by private industry of the potential lucrative market. The armed services have made efforts to test and incorporate these materials and methodologies into their building codes and standards; the extent of these incorporations is the focus of this research.