Collaborative Research: Blast Resistance of Polyurea-Steel Composite Structures for Infrastructure Protection

本研究的目的是了解聚氨酯涂层金属结构系统在爆炸载荷作用下的失效机制。聚脲是一类高分子材料，在减轻建筑物的冲击和爆炸危险方面表现出优异的性能。这项研究将导致对聚氨酯-钢复合系统抗爆炸性能背后的机制的基本理解。这种基本的理解是创新先进的结构保护系统所必需的。该项目的可交付成果包括最先进的计算模型，用于预测聚氨酯-钢复合材料系统在爆炸载荷下的响应，改进爆炸防护的新型结构设计，研究成果的传播以及对研究生和本科生的教育，特别强调科学，工程和技术领域的少数民族和代表性不足的群体。这些调查将为全球和国家能源供应路线（如石油和天然气管道）提供更好的保护系统，以抵御自然灾害和恐怖袭击；民用和军用车辆不受简易爆炸装置的影响，船舶船体在水下或水上发生爆炸。聚氨酯-钢复合结构系统将提供低成本的优势，并易于实施新的和现有的结构。研究生和本科生将通过参与研究活动和新课程从该项目中受益。研究生将通过接触合作大学的教师、课程和设施来扩大他们的教育。本科生，特别是少数民族和代表性不足的群体，将通过参与大学已经建立的项目为该项目做出贡献并从中获益。

The objective of this research is to understand the failure mechanisms of polyurea-coated metallic structural systems when subjected to blast loads. Polyurea, a class of polymeric materials, was shown to exhibit outstanding properties in mitigating impact and blast hazard in structures. This research will result in the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms behind the blast resistance properties of polyurea-steel composite systems. This fundamental understanding is needed for innovation of advanced structural protection systems. Deliverables of the project include state-of-the-art computational models to predict the response of polyurea-steel composite system under blast loads, novel structural designs for improved blast protection, dissemination of research results as well as education of graduates and undergraduate students with particular emphasis on minorities and underrepresented groups in science, engineering and technology.The investigations will lead to better protection systems for global and national energy supply routes, such as oil and gas pipelines against natural disasters and terrorist attacks; civilian and military vehicles against improvised explosive devices, and ship hulls in the event of an under or above water explosion. Polyurea-steel composite structural systems will offer the advantages of low cost, and easy implementation to new and existing structures. Graduate and undergraduate students will benefit from this project through participation in research activities and new courses. Graduate students will broaden their education by exposure to faculty, classes and facilities at the collaborating universities. Undergraduate students, with particular focus on minorities and underrepresented groups, will contribute to and gain from this project through programs already established at the participating universities.