The strengthening system for beam-column connections in steel frame buildings to resist progressive collapse helps to mitigate progressive collapse in the event of accidental column loss by using a system of rippled steel plates reinforcing the beam-column connection. Various configurations of rippled steel plates are provided to connect in-plane and transverse beams at a joint. In the event of severe damage caused to a column of a steel framed building, the upper joints of the damaged column undergo downward movement. The rippled plates at the joint straighten during the initial downward movement, and resist further downward movement after complete straightening of the ripples. This helps in the development of catenary action in steel beams. The proposed system is simple, fast to construct, demountable, and easy to repair/replace after damage caused by blast loads.

The strengthening system for beam-column connections in steel frame buildings to resist progressive collapse helps to mitigate progressive collapse in the event of accidental column loss by using a system of rippled steel plates reinforcing the beam-column connection. Various configurations of rippled steel plates are provided to connect in-plane and transverse beams at a joint. In the event of severe damage caused to a column of a steel framed building, the upper joints of the damaged column undergo downward movement. The rippled plates at the joint straighten during the initial downward movement, and resist further downward movement after complete straightening of the ripples. This helps in the development of catenary action in steel beams. The proposed system is simple, fast to construct, demountable, and easy to repair/replace after damage caused by blast loads.

A protective system for protecting a building from aircraft crashes and similar high-energy impacts includes a three-dimensional protective grid erected in front of a building wall at a distance therefrom and having interconnected beams. The protective system is supported on the building wall by a plurality of plastically deformable energy-absorbing elements and is therefore constructed in such a way that even an impact by a heavy four-jet engine aircraft, such as a Boeing 747 or Airbus A380, does not destroy the integrity of the building it protects.

A method according to one embodiment includes securing a first plurality of conductive sheets to a surface, applying a conductive tape to a first plurality of joints between conductive sheets of the first plurality of conductive sheets, and securing a second plurality of conductive sheets to the first plurality of conductive sheets without fully penetrating the first plurality of conductive sheets. In such an embodiment, each of a second plurality of joints between conductive sheets of the second plurality of conductive sheets is offset relative to the first plurality of joints.

A building security assembly includes a vestibule that may be attached to an entrance of an institution and the vestibule has an entrance and an exit. A first door is hingedly coupled to the vestibule to open and close the entrance. A second door is hingedly coupled to the vestibule to open and close the exit. A metal detection array is positioned within the vestibule to detect metal components of a firearm. A security unit is coupled to the vestibule and is in electrical communication with the metal detection array. The security unit locks each of the first and second doors when the metal detection array detects the metal components of the firearm to inhibit the individual from bringing the firearm into the institution.

An energy dissipating article of manufacture is disclosed that is a high pressure enhanced structure technology comprising a structure having at least one wall forming a sealed inner chamber, and either (i) the sealed inner chamber is filled with a gas under pressure, or (ii) an inflated bladder filled with gas is located within the sealed inner chamber, or (iii) a deflated bladder that is located within the sealed inner chamber, and an inflation system that produces a gas to inflate the deflated bladder, or (iv) the sealed inner chamber at one atmosphere standard normal pressure, and an inflation system that produces a gas, to pressurize the inner chamber. A method of making the articles of manufacture and uses thereof are disclosed.

A building security assembly includes a vestibule that may be attached to an entrance of an institution and the vestibule has an entrance and an exit. A first door is hingedly coupled to the vestibule to open and close the entrance. A second door is hingedly coupled to the vestibule to open and close the exit. A metal detection array is positioned within the vestibule to detect metal components of a firearm. A security unit is coupled to the vestibule and is in electrical communication with the metal detection array. The security unit locks each of the first and second doors when the metal detection array detects the metal components of the firearm to inhibit the individual from bringing the firearm into the institution.

A confinement structure comprises one or more open cells (70) for confinement, in use, of particulate fill materials such as soil, sand or aggregate. The cells (70) comprise walls (72) formed of a composite material comprising a polymeric grid layer laminated to a fabric layer. The walls (72) may be formed from a strip of the composite material comprising one or more living hinges. The cells (70) may be provided with skirt portions (74) that extend from at least some of the walls (72).

A method and apparatus according to which a blast resistant shelter is assembled. The blast resistant shelter includes first and second structural members, a third structural member coupled to the first and second structural members, a first airway adjacent the third structural member, and a first blast panel pivotably mounted to the third structural member and adapted to pivot thereabout in response to a blast wave. In a first configuration, the first blast panel is detachably connected to a first portion of the blast resistant shelter and prevented from pivoting about the third structural member so that the first blast panel obstructs air flow through the first airway. In a second configuration, in response to the blast wave, the first blast panel is detached from the first portion of the blast resistant shelter and permitted to pivot about the third structural member to permit air flow through the first airway.

A method and apparatus according to which a blast resistant shelter is assembled. The blast resistant shelter includes first and second structural members, a third structural member coupled to the first and second structural members, a first airway adjacent the third structural member, and a first blast panel pivotably mounted to the third structural member and adapted to pivot thereabout in response to a blast wave. In a first configuration, the first blast panel is detachably connected to a first portion of the blast resistant shelter and prevented from pivoting about the third structural member so that the first blast panel obstructs air flow through the first airway. In a second configuration, in response to the blast wave, the first blast panel is detached from the first portion of the blast resistant shelter and permitted to pivot about the third structural member to permit air flow through the first airway.