3WEAVE Fabric/Composite Panels for Blast Protection

Based on the results of the Phase I project, it was shown that 3TEX`s unitary 3D woven E-Glass billet reinforced composite panels have excellent potential to be used as blast mitigating material for protecting buildings. Fibers and resins used in the Phase I were selected with affordability and fire resistance as the major considerations. In the Phase II effort proposed, the same fiber and resin will be used. The 3D woven billet preform design will be optimized and, based on the new geometry, predictive analysis will be conducted to determine that performance under shock loading is still at the same level found in Phase I or better. The new material will be produced and tested in the University of Rhode Island (URI) shock tube for validation. Large scale blast testing of mock-up concrete walls will be conducted using three different mounting approaches. An innovative attenuator will be used to reduce the shock load transmitted through the mounting bolts to the wall. A patented coupler will also used to simulate the joining of two panels in a vertical installation. At the end of the Phase II, a complete technical data package (TDP) for the materials and methods used, will be developed.