An Overview of the Blast Design for the Explosives Development Facility
Abstract
Southwest Research Institute provided blast design consultation to Bernard Johnson Young Incorporated for the design of the Explosives Development Facility at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. The facility makes use of the foundation of an existing building with a new steel frame building with metal panel siding. Additional new construction included two explosives test chambers, each rated for 15 pounds of explosives, explosives bays, and a 5-bay explosives magazine. This paper provides an overview of the blast safety and explosion resistant design features of the facility. Siting was verified in accordance with AMCR 385-100 and DoD 6055.9. Blast resistant structural design was performed in accordance with TM5-1300. The explosives bays are partially vented cubicles with roofs, and are designed to stop primary and secondary fragments and to reduce wrap-around pressures to acceptable levels at adjacent areas. The main building structure is designed to resist these wrap-around loads. The test cells are designed to respond elastically to routine explosion tests. The test cells include a blast door, viewports, penetrations for ventilation and electrical, and fragmentation shielding. Finally, the side wall, back wall, and roof of the magazine were designed to withstand an internal explosion while deforming plastically. The front wall and door were designed to resist an explosion in an adjacent bay.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA509609
Entities
People
- Michael A. Polcyn
- Robert S. Hansen
Organizations
- Southwest Research Institute