Explosive blast absorption

Abstract

An explosive blast absorption barrier, comprising a plurality of layers including a front layer and at least one further layer which comprises a recess forming layer providing a plurality of conical or pyramidal tapered recesses, each tapering from a wider opening at a surface distal from the front layer to a narrower end, each tapered recess being at least partially filled with a mixture of particulate matter and a gel.

1 . An explosive blast absorption barrier, comprising a plurality of layers including a front layer and at least one further layer which comprises a recess forming layer providing a plurality of conical or pyramidal tapered recesses, each tapering from a wider opening at a surface distal from the front layer to a narrower end, each tapered recess being at least partially filled with a mixture of particulate matter and a gel. 
     
     
         2 . An explosive blast absorption barrier, as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the particulate matter is sand. 
     
     
         3 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the recess-forming layer is of a pulped paper material. 
     
     
         4 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the recess-forming layer is formed of a particulate material. 
     
     
         5 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  comprising at least two of the recess-forming layers, spaced apart from each other, and each having particulate/gel material within their respective conical or pyramidal recesses. 
     
     
         6 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of the recess-forming layers are mounted upon a respective support layer. 
     
     
         7 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 6  wherein at least one of the support layers is of a corrugated card material. 
     
     
         8 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  comprising at least two recess-forming layers having conical or pyramidal recesses at least partially filled with a mixture of particulate matter and a gel, each of these being separated by a support layer, and at least one air gap between at least two of the recess forming layers. 
     
     
         9 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is a sacrificial trim or external panel mounted closest to a region where an explosive blast is expected to originate from. 
     
     
         10 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the conical or pyramidal tapered recesses are mounted such that the angle of a blast wave from an expected blast position is around 42°. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the recess-forming layers includes a flame retardant material. 
     
     
         12 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the gel comprises water mixed with a gelling agent. 
     
     
         13 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the recess-forming layer is formed of a mixture of particulate matter and an adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . A barrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the particulate matter forming the recess-forming layer is a sand material. 
     
     
         15 . A protective structure for forming a floor, wall, ceiling or structure mounted around an area to be protected from blast, comprising a barrier as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method for protecting a structure comprising a mounting a barrier as claimed in  claim 1  between the structure and the region where a blast may originate from, such that the barrier provides a sacrificial blast absorption barrier.