GB2295170A

GB2295170A - Blast resistant building structures; cover panel for window aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2295170A
Application number: GB9523565A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Dallas
Original assignee: HENRY BROTHERS
Current assignee: HENRY BROTHERS
Priority date: 1994-11-18
Filing date: 1995-11-17
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-17
Also published as: GB9523565D0; GB9423343D0; GB2295170B

Abstract

A blast resistant building structure comprises exterior was 1 provided with one or more windows 5 and corresponding panels 7 for closing the windows. Mating sides of the windows and panels respectively are shaped such as to limit inward movement of the panel into the window thereby serving to prevent blast pressure from blowing the panel into the building. Bolts are provided for fixing the panel 7 to the external side of the exterior wall. The panel and/or exterior wall of the structure is formed of reinforced concrete; the panel may be steel-clad on its interior face; it is put into parition over glass 6 when protection against a potential blast is required. <IMAGE>

Description

BLAST RESISTANT BUILDING STRUCTURES This invention relates to blast resistant building structures having provision for windows.

Conventional building structures can suffer substantial blast damage when subjected to bomb blasts of low intensity. In particular, glass in the windows shatters and blows inwards causing serious injuries to the occupants of the building. Methods of reinforcing the glass are known but such materials are not strong enough to resist a bomb blast of high intensity.

Blast resistant buildings, such as the one described in British Patent Specification 2277334A, have been proposed but these have the disadvantage that they are not provided with any windows at all. The consequence of this is that the interior of the building can only be illuminated by means of artificial light and the quality of the environment for occupants is compromised.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate these disadvantages by making provision for windows in a blast resistant building on the one hand without compromising the blast resistant capability of the building on the other.

According to the present invention, there is provided a blast resistant building structure comprising exterior walls provided with one or more window means and corresponding panels for sealing the window means, wherein mating sides of the window means and panels are shaped such as to limit inward movement of the panel into the window means thereby serving to prevent blast pressure from blowing the panel into the building.

The exterior walls and panels are preferably of reinforced concrete.

In one embodiment of the invention, the window means comprises sides which taper inwardly towards the inside of the building, and the panel has correspondingly tapering sides. Alternatively, the sides of the panel and window means may be stepped. The shape of the window means and panel is not limited to a rectangle but may be circular or any other geometrical shape.

The exterior surface or the entire surface of the panel may be clad with steel for reinforcement. The steel cladding may be provided with lugs or extensions extending beyond the exterior surface of the panel, the lugs mating against the exterior wall when the panel is within the window means. The lugs are provided with apertures which align with holes in the exterior wall for receiving bolts. In a preferred arrangement, the sides of the window which mate with the panel may also be clad with steel.

The blast resistant building structure may be constructed from a plurality of pre-formed reinforced concrete panels.

The present invention therefore provides a blast resistant building structure which has provision for windows so that in peace time the panels can be removed to reveal the windows and replaced when there is a risk of bomb blasts.

The window means may be in the form of an opening. Alternatively the exterior walls of the building may comprise a main wall lined with a plate and window means formed of an opening in the main wall and the plate covering the opening being cut away when the panel is removed.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional view of a blast resistant building embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a window of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the window when closed by the panel taken along lines A-A of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view showing reinforcing bars within the panel; and Figure 5 is a sectional view showing reinforcing bars within the panel taken along lines X-X of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows part of a blast resistant building structure of the type described in more detail in co-pending application GB 2 277 334. The structure comprises preformed, reinforced concrete walls 1, which together with a first floor slab 2 define the bulk of the structure. The inside surface of the walls 1 are lined with steel plating 3 which provides for further protection in the event of a bomb blast. The ground floor room has a suspended ceiling 4. The wall 1 further comprises window means 5 for receiving a pre-cast reinforced concrete panel 7. The window portion of the wall 1 may be overlaid by glass 6 or other transparent material instead of the steel plating 3.

Alternatively, the steel plating 3 may be continuous such that it covers the window portion 5. Therefore, during peacetime, the panel 7 is removed and the steel plating 3 covering the window portion can be cut away to be replaced by glass or other transparent material.

The window 5 and panel 7 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 5.

The window 5 is rectangular when viewed in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, but tapers inwardly to form a trapezoidally shaped hole 9. The window therefore has tapered sides 15, which in this embodiment, are lined with steel plate 16. The steel plate 16 extends beyond the outer side 13 of the window to form a flange 17 for contacting the exterior side of wall 1 and so providing means for facilitating securing of the panel in the window. The flange 17 comprises a plurality of holes 19 which align with corresponding threaded sockets 20 formed in the wall 1.

The panel 7 is shaped to fit within the window 5. The inward surfaces 21 and 23 are clad with steel plate 25. As with the steel plate 16 lining the window 5, the steel plate 25 extends beyond the outer surface of the panel 7 to form a lip 27. The lip 27 comprises a plurality of holes 29 which correspond with the holes 19 of the flange.

The window 5 can be closed by bolting the flange 17 to the lip 27.

The window 5 and panel 7 are tapered inwardly so that when the window is closed, the panel cannot be blown inwards under force of a bomb blast The profile of the mating sides of the panel 7 and window 5 may alternatively be stepped (not shown).

The panel 7 is formed of a pre-cast, reinforced concrete block in which steel reinforcement bars may be arranged as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Therefore, the present invention provides a window which can easily be interchanged depending on the situation. The removable panel is designed such that it can resist the blast pressure of a bomb blast and not be blown inwards. This facility enables a window to be provided in an existing windowless fortified building.

In the light of this disclosure, modifications of described embodiments as well as other embodiments all within the scope of the appended claims will now become apparent to persons skilled in the art

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A blast resistant building structure comprising exterior walls provided with one or more window means and corresponding panels for sealing the window means, wherein mating sides of the window means and panels are shaped such as to limit inward movement of the panel into the window means thereby serving to prevent blast pressure from blowing the panel into the building.
2. A blast resistant building structure according to claim 1, wherein the panel is trapezoidal in shape and the window means conforms with the shape of the panel.
3. A blast resistant building structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising means for fixing the panel to the external side of the exterior wall.
4. A blast resistant building structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel and/or exterior wall is formed of reinforced concrete.
5. A blast resistant building structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel is partially coated with steel plate.
6. A blast resistant building structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure is formed from a plurality of pre-formed panels.
7. A blast resistant building structure according to claim 6, wherein the window means is lined with steel plate.
8. A blast resistant building structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the window means comprises an opening.
9. A blast resistant building structure according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the exterior walls comprise a main wall lined on the inner surface with a reinforcement plate and the window means comprises an opening in the main wall and the part of reinforcement plate covering the opening being cut away upon removal of the panel.
10. A blast resistant building structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.