Australia launched a new collaborative research program between the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of Adelaide to better protect of buildings against bomb attacks.
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, Aug.5 announced the three-year research program that will evaluate and develop materials and engineering solutions to minimize the effects of terrorist explosions aimed at civilian and military facilities.
“The outcomes of this joint research will greatly improve the strength of Australia’s critical infrastructure,” Snowdon said.
DSTO is experienced in investigating blast results on physical structures that will be valuable in developing anti-blast design standards for architectural applications, he said.
The research will focus on studying the performance of ultra high performance concrete materials when subjected to blast loads. DSTO will conduct the blast testing and analyze the data.
“The research will contribute to the design of future blast-resistant concrete structures and ultimately to the development of blast mitigating technologies,” Snowdon said.
Other research partners include the State University of New York-Buffalo in the United States and construction engineering company VSL Australia.
Snowdon said: “The blast protection program for buildings is another example of a strong research relationship that contributes jointly to the national interest.”