We provide experimental evidence of the mitigation properties of metaconcrete under blast loading. Mitigation is achieved through resonance of engineered aggregates consisting of a heavy and stiff core coated by a light and compliant outer layer. These engineered aggregates replace the standard gravel in conventional concrete. To assess experimentally the attenuation properties of metaconcrete, we have cast two batches of cylindrical specimens. The mortar matrix of the first batch consists of cement combined with a regular sand mix, while the mortar matrix of the second batch consists of cement combined with sand mix, fine gravel, and polymeric fibers. One of the specimens of each batch was cast with no aggregates, while the other two contained 40 and 60, respectively, randomly arranged 22 mm diameter commercially available computer mouse balls. We performed nondestructive dynamic tests by applying a 10 V amplitude periodic signal to one end of the specimens and measuring the amplitude of the transmitted signal received at the other end. We observed a remarkable 2 order of magnitude reduction in the amplitude of the transmitted signal in metaconcrete relative to conventional concrete.
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March 2017
Research-Article
Experimental Validation of Metaconcrete Blast Mitigation Properties
Deborah Briccola,
Deborah Briccola
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department,
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: deborah.briccola@polimi.it
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: deborah.briccola@polimi.it
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Michael Ortiz,
Michael Ortiz
Mem. ASME
Engineering and Applied Sciences Division,
California Institute of Technology,
1200 California Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91125
e-mail: ortiz@aero.caltech.edu
Engineering and Applied Sciences Division,
California Institute of Technology,
1200 California Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91125
e-mail: ortiz@aero.caltech.edu
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Anna Pandolfi
Anna Pandolfi
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department,
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: anna.pandolfi@polimi.it
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: anna.pandolfi@polimi.it
Search for other works by this author on:
Deborah Briccola
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department,
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: deborah.briccola@polimi.it
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: deborah.briccola@polimi.it
Michael Ortiz
Mem. ASME
Engineering and Applied Sciences Division,
California Institute of Technology,
1200 California Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91125
e-mail: ortiz@aero.caltech.edu
Engineering and Applied Sciences Division,
California Institute of Technology,
1200 California Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91125
e-mail: ortiz@aero.caltech.edu
Anna Pandolfi
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department,
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: anna.pandolfi@polimi.it
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: anna.pandolfi@polimi.it
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Applied Mechanics Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS. Manuscript received September 29, 2016; final manuscript received November 14, 2016; published online December 1, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Weinong Chen.
J. Appl. Mech. Mar 2017, 84(3): 031001 (6 pages)
Published Online: December 1, 2016
Article history
Received:
September 29, 2016
Revised:
November 14, 2016
Citation
Briccola, D., Ortiz, M., and Pandolfi, A. (December 1, 2016). "Experimental Validation of Metaconcrete Blast Mitigation Properties." ASME. J. Appl. Mech. March 2017; 84(3): 031001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4035259
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