Energy absorbing blast wall for building structure

Abstract

A wall system protects a building structure from pressure caused by explosive blasts. The wall system includes vertical studs. Outer blast wall panels and inner blast wall panels are secured to the opposing sides of the vertical studs. An upper mounting system is attached to the building structure. An upper mounting system includes a fixed track, a movable mounting track, and an energy absorbing system that flexibly couples the movable mounting track to the fixed track. The upper ends of the vertical studs are attached to movable mounting track. A lower mounting system includes a mounting track that aligns the lower ends of the vertical studs. The wall are filled with an energy absorbing material. The lower ends of the vertical studs are connected to a lower track.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 336,524, filed on Dec. 16, 2008, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 015,195 filed on Dec. 20, 2007. This application is also claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 380,703 filed on Sep. 7, 2010, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 437,628 filed on Jan. 29, 2011. This application incorporates the foregoing nonprovisional application and the foregoing provisional applications by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is generally in the field of protective wall structures for buildings, and, more particularly, is in the field of blast resistant walls.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Current existing blast resistant wall assemblies attempt to resist the extreme force...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]A blast wall assembly and the components described herein form an integrated system that effectively absorbs blast energy. Unlike conventional systems, the components of the blast wall assembly function in a manner similar to highway “crumple zones” by absorbing the energy generated by the sudden impact of a blast wave on the exterior surface of the blast wall. The components of the blast wall assembly flex, move, compress, crush and bend before the full magnitude of the blast load is transmitted via the components to the fasteners used to secure the assembly to the structure. By absorbing the sudden impact of energy, the system greatly reduces the likelihood of component failure and fastener failure. Although the blast wall assembly may incur repairable damage, the blast wall assembly absorbs a substantial portion of the blast energy rather than imploding into the interior space of the structure. Thus, the blast wall assembly greatly enhances the safety of the building structure and the occupants of the building structure.

[0007]When a blast pressure wave first impacts an exterior blast board, the exterior blast board resists penetration by objects, such as rocks and shrapnel, which may be hurled against the wall by the blast force. A portion of the energy of the blast wave is absorbed by flexural bending of the exterior blast board. The load applied to the exterior blast board by the blast pressure wave is transferred to vertical wall studs. The exterior blast board also provides lateral bracing for the vertical studs, which helps prevent torsional failure of the light gauge vertical studs. The exterior blast board also serves as a substrate for a variety of exterior finish systems that may be applied to the cementitious wall board forming the outer face of the exterior blast board. Thus, from the outside, the blast wall assembly may be configured to have the cosmetic appearance of a conventional wall.

[0008]The light gauge (e.g., 16 gauge) vertical wall studs are flexible. Thus, when the load from the blast pressure wave is applied to the wall studs via the outer blast pane, the wall studs bend and deform and eventually stretch. The magnitude of deformation of the wall studs may exceed the yield strength of the wall studs and cause a portion of the deformation to be permanent. The bending, deformation and stretching of the studs absorbs additional blast energy.

Problems solved by technology

Although the blast wall assembly may incur repairable damage, the blast wall assembly absorbs a substantial portion of the blast energy rather than imploding into the interior space of the structure.

Thus, when the load from the blast pressure wave is applied to the wall studs via the outer blast pane, the wall studs bend and deform and eventually stretch.

The magnitude of deformation of the wall studs may exceed the yield strength of the wall studs and cause a portion of the deformation to be permanent.

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