Project description
Self-centring textile-reinforced concrete resists damage from blasts
Self-centring reinforced concrete – concrete that resists lateral forces, preventing structural damage – is widely used to maintain structural integrity in response to earthquakes. Self-centring principles have rarely been studied in the context of blasts. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BLASTEX project aims to conduct pioneering studies in this area with textile-reinforced concrete strengthening layers. The textile-reinforced concrete layers will dissipate energy during a blast event through controlled crack formation. When the blast inertial loads have subsided, the elastic textile reinforcement will act like a restorative spring, returning the structure to its original position. BLASTEX will carry out experimental and numerical investigations, followed by exploration of commercial deployment.
Objective
BLASTEX aims to jumpstart the development of self-centering (SC) reinforced concrete members that absorb blast energy with minimal damage, utilizing textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) strengthening layers for swift functional recovery. TRC layers dissipate energy through controlled crack formation in the cementitious matrix, while elastic textile reinforcement acts as a restorative spring, returning the structure to its original position after blast inertial loads are removed. While SC principles are well-established in seismic-resistant steel structures, their application in blast-resilient reinforced concrete remains unexplored. BLASTEX bridges this gap, leveraging SC to enhance blast resilience, eliminate the need for demolition, and reduce waste generation and associated emissions in new construction.
During the outgoing phase at Virginia Tech (VT, US, 2 yr.), I will perform blast tests using the unique Shock Tube Laboratory, validate numerical models, and optimize SC design parameters. At Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU, CZ, incoming phase, 1 yr.), I will conduct numerical parametric studies and develop guidelines to facilitate SC implementation. At MOB-Bars (CZ, non-academic placement, 6 mo.), a start-up specializing in blast-resistant systems, I will examine SC protective design deployment in the commercial sector.
With MSCA funding, I will benefit from three forms of mentorship: (i) close collaboration with Dr. Eric Jacques, a Shock Tube Laboratory director and expert on infrastructure resilience, blast protection, and energetic materials, (ii) academic leadership/research facility management training (Prof. Petr Konvalinka, former CTU Rector), and (iii) collaboration with Dr. Jindřich Fornůsek (MOB-Bars CEO).
BLASTEX will facilitate two-way knowledge transfer across the Atlantic, enabling the researcher to find a future tenure-track position while honing his leadership/fundraising skills in blast research and the design of experimental facilities.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global FellowshipsCoordinator
160 00 Praha
Czechia