BLAST MITIGATION

 A large defense contractor was charged with developing a panel that was no more than four inches thick and capable of mitigating a 30,000 psi bomb blast. The bomb blast test was done at EMRTC in Socoro, New Mexico. Testing done at 30,000 psi were successful for all of the competitors in the test. At 50,000 psi, all but two competitors were eliminated. At 75,000 psi, only one panel survived. Then ALLFlex® was included in the test. The test pressure was increased to 150,000 psi. This was accomplished by placing 100 pounds of TNT flake just 12” inches above the surface of the four inch thick panel. 4-1/2 lbs. of C4 explosives was used as the detonator. The combination of the two explosive media and their close approximation to the panel (12”) combined for an explosive energy of 159,000 psi. The structure of the panel was ½” of ALLFlex® on the strike face, a sheet of S glass, a one inch section of ALLFlex® and another sheet of S glass. The results were  impressive: no penetration of the 1/2" strike face, an indention in the shape of the TNT box in the fist S glas panel, and no damage to the second layer of ALLFlex® or the second S glass panel.