Anti-Terrorism - Survivability and Denial

The phase II effort is to refine the analytical and finite-element analyses tools developed under phase I to the design and analyses of low-cost protective structures to mitigate shock loading on Naval ships and National infrastructure such as dams, bridges, dry docks, etc. The phase II approach will advance the phase I methodology utilizing sandwich panels constructed of high-strength steel faces, steel cores such as honeycomb, corrugations, and lattice-type metallic cores. These structures were shown in phase I to be very effective in absorbing energy thereby mitigating air blast and underwater shock loading, and are adaptable to protecting National infrastructure. The phase II effort has been coordinated with the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) who is responsible for dam safety. Small-scale models of a generic concrete arch-type dam will be built to assess their vulnerability, and to demonstrate how the vulnerability can be overcome by a protective structure. The detailed protective structure design developed for ease of installation can be applied to protect other types of infrastructure such as spillway gates, dry docks, and bridges against terrorist attack. It is envisioned that by using low-cost structural steel construction, protective structure can be produced commercially at low cost to benefit ratio.