COST-EFFECTIVE SPALL LINERS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PHASE I FEASIBILITY RESEARCH IS TO IDENTIFY CONCEPTS, DESIGNS, AND MATERIALS FOR USE IN A SPALL LINER FOR PROTECTION FROM CONCRETE SPALLS CREATED BY HIGH-IMPULSE BLAST PRESSURES. PHASE I RESEARCH WILL DETERMINE THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND, HENCE, THE FEASIBILITY OF USING A FIBER-REINFORCED SPALL LINER INSIDE CONCRETE STRUCTURES. THE GENERAL APPROACH ADOPTED FOR THIS RESEARCH IS TO HYPOTHESIZE THE LIKELY MECHANICAL BEHAVIORS THAT RESULT FROM A SHOCK LOADING, DEVELOP STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS FOR DEFEATING THE SPALLS, SELECT FIBER-REINFORCED MATERIALS FOR USE, PERFORM TRADE STUDIES, AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM CONCEPT DEFINITION THAT WILL BE USED BY THE AIR FORCE TO DECIDE THE VIABILITY OF USING SPALL PROTECTIVE LINERS. THE CONCEPT OF DEVELOPING SPALL LINERS WITH EFFECTIVELY NO STAND-OFF DISTANCE, SUCH AS THE PREFABRICATION HYPAR PANELS, WILL BE INVESTIGATED. THE PRINCIPAL CONSTRAINTS THAT APPLY TO ANY SYSTEM WHICH HAS MET THE REQUIRED BALLISTIC AND STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS ARE THOSE OF WEIGHT, EASE OF INSTALLATION, AND COST. THIS RESEARCH WILL ADDRESS ALL OF THESE CONSTRAINTS TO ESTABLISH A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CONCEPTS/DESIGNS FOR EVALUATION DURING ANY PHASE II RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.