A new mixture of concrete has been developed to decrease the damage done in bomb attacks. This mix was used in the construction of the One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, Science Daily reports.
The danger posed by explosions to buildings is mainly in the debris that comes loose and goes flying. Traditional concrete is brittle, meaning that an explosive force can easily tear off chunks and fling them into the air.
This new concrete mix, developed by Dr. Stephan Hauser, Managing Director of Ducon Europe GmbH & CoKG, actually deforms instead of breaking. Very hard high-performance concrete is combined with finely-meshed reinforced steel, and when a certain threshold of pressure is exerted on the concrete, the steel ruptures and the shock is distributed uniformly throughout the concrete.
A new computational formula is what makes this possible. Researchers have developed a universal formula which allows them to rapidly compute the required thickness of the concrete for each specific application.
This formula was used in the application of the concrete to the One World Trade Center. The tower rests on a 20-story, bombproof foundation, and has "safety concrete" at vulnerable points, according to Science Daily.
Related Stories
Sponsored | | Feb 28, 2018
Quality Products Needed To Meet Green Building Standards Today
Sustainable healthcare facilities will need energy-efficient building enclosures from the outset.
Sponsored | | Feb 15, 2018
Fact vs. fiction: Hotel waterproofing in coastal zones
Sign up for our free March 6 webinar on “A Project Peer Review: The Single Most Important Factor in Reducing the Risk of a Mold and Moisture Lawsuit in Your Next Project”.
Building Materials | Dec 19, 2017
‘Ultra Violet’ is Pantone’s Color of the Year 2018
The color represents a symbol of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance, according to Pantone.
Sponsored | Building Materials | Aug 24, 2017
Controlling condensation
No matter what structural material you build with, be it steel, concrete, or wood, water is the enemy.
Sponsored | Building Materials | Aug 17, 2017
Teflon’s little brother is breathing new life into big design
Lighter than glass and 100% recyclable, one material takes center stage in the future of building.
Concrete | Jul 7, 2017
The secrets held within Ancient Roman concrete could improve future building practices
Not only has the concrete stood the test of time, but it has actually become stronger.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Next-gen materials for the built environment, Blaine Brownell, Transmaterial
Architect and materials guru Blaine Brownell reveals emerging trends and applications that are transforming the technological capacity, environmental performance, and design potential of architecture.
