SUPPRESSING BLAST ENERGY FROM SHIPBOARD EXPLOSIONS BY AQUEOUS FOAM/HIGH STRENGTH MESH CURTAINS

THIS PROPOSAL DEFINES A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EVALUATE AQUEOUS FOAMS TO PROVIDE A SINGLE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF SUPPRESSING BLAST EFFECT AND FIRES WITHIN NAVAL VESSELS. AQUEOUS FOAMS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO SUPPRESS EXPLOSIVE BLAST ENERGY. THE USE OF HIGH-STRENGTH, HEATRESISTANT MESH CURTAINS IS PROPOSED TO ENHANCE BLAST DAMAGE MITIGATION. THE USE OF HALON 1301 (BROMOTRIFLUOROMETHANE) AS A FOAMING AGENT WILL BE EVALUATED IN FOLLOW-ON TESTING FOR ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE SUSTAINED SUPPRESSION OF COMBUSTION REFLASH AND BUILDUP OF EXPLOSIVE VAPORS. HIGH-STRENGTH MESH BARRIERS WOULD PROVIDE THREE MODES OF BLAST ENERGY DISSIPATION: (1) CONVERTING SHOCK FRONT ENERGY INTO HEAT FROM SUPERSONIC GAS FORCED THROUGH SMALL CROSS-SECTIONS; (2) CONVERTING GAS ENERGY PASSING THROUGH ONE OR MORE MESH BARRIERS INTO HIGHLY TURBULENT FLOW...