Development of EMI Enhanced Concrete for EMP and Blast Protection

In this work, Texas Research Institute (TRI) Austin, Inc, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and Missouri University of Science and Technology will demonstrate the use of graphene and spiral steel embedment as strength reinforcement and electromagnetic interference/pulse protection for concrete.  Research will be performed as to the best method(s) for embedment of the materials of interest into concrete.  EMI measurements will be made over a wide frequency band using small scale, demonstrative test specimens.  Larger test specimens, suitable for bulk mechanical property examination will be fabricated.  Mechanical properties investigated will include compression, modulus of rupture, splitting tensile, and impact propertiesall of which can be related back to blast performance.  Nondestructive inspection of the specimens will be conducted to ensure the embedment does not correlate to deleterious material properties.  A path forward to a Phase II demonstration involving the fabrication of a closed structure (6 sides with windows, doors, and wire/piping passthroughs) will be developed.