GB2219812A

GB2219812A - Attack resistant building

Info

Publication number: GB2219812A
Application number: GB8812416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ruben Eytan
Original assignee: BLACKBOURNE AND MCCOMBE Ltd
Current assignee: BLACKBOURNE AND MCCOMBE Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-25
Filing date: 1988-05-25
Publication date: 1989-12-20
Also published as: GB8812416D0

Abstract

A building hardened to resist attack as by explosive and/or weaponery, includes a plurality of concrete walls, at least one of the walls having an inner layer of sheet material as steel plate 20 attached, as by brackets 22 to reinforcement 23 within the concrete. <IMAGE>

Description

BUILDING This invention relates to a building hardened to resist explosive and weaponery such as mortars, small artillery and machine guns. The building concerned can be suitable as or part of a protective building for troops, police or comparable security forces.

Whilst the unit can be used in wartime as protection against the enemy or enemy bombardment, the invention is particularly suitable for use during peace time as protection against criminals/terrorist elements.

It is not unusual for hardened buildings to have walls of reinforced concrete. However, concrete being generally weak in tension, can, when subjected to explosion or the like break and shatter inwardly, causing damage and possible injury to occupants of the building.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hardened building.

The invention provides a building having one or more hardened walls, the or each hardened walls being composed of a layer or reinforced concrete and an inner layer of a material of tensile strength greater than that of the concrete. The inner layer can be of sheet steel, steel mesh, or, cheaper and less hardened applications even a layer of wood or a layer of glass reinforced plastics material, the function of the inner layer being to prevent dispersal of shattered fragments of the concrete wall extending inwardly into the space upon partial distruction of the concrete layer.

Preferably, the inner layer is connected to the reinforcement within the concrete.

In the case of a inner layer of steel plate, the steel plate can conveniently be welded to conventional mesh reinforcing members within the concrete.

The term wall as used herein includes a conventional wall but also a roof and a floor.

Desirably, opening in any hardened wall are provided with additional reinforcement to allow the attachment of hardened doors/windows. Such reinforcement can be in the form of outwardly open steel channel members wholly or completely surrounding the opening.

Exterior edges of hardened walls can be provided with a comparable strengthening. When such strengthening is in the form of steel it greatly facilitates the uniting of buildings of comparable sizes and shapes to form a larger building. Such uniting can be effected by welding the external reinforcement along the join. The invention also provides a method of making a hardened building comprising: providing a mould, arranging within the mould on at least one part of the mould cavity which defines a wall to be hardened, a lining material of tensile strength higher than the tensile strength of the eventual concrete to be cast, attaching reinforcment within that part of the mould cavity to the inner layer and pouring concrete to fill the mould and allowing the concrete to set.

Preferably the inner layer is of steel and is welded or otherwise connected to steel reinforcement within the concrete.

Preferably steel reinforcing members are provided at selected edges of the reinforced walls to facilitate connection thereof to adjacent units.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a typical building conforming to the invention and made by the method of the invention; Fig. la is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the uniting of two buildings; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a hardened wall of the building of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view comparable to that of Fig. 2 but illustrating an edge of an opening or an end of a hardened wall.

Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig.2, but on areduced scale; Fig. 5 illustrates a lining for a window in a hardened wall; and Fig. 6 illustrates a lining for a door in a hardened wall.

Although the invention is applicable to many types of hardened buildings, it is particularly suitable for application to the buildings described in some detail in co-pending Application No.

(code title 3/4). Methods of manufacturing such a building are also disclosed in our co-pending Application No. (code title case 2/4).

Referring now to the drawings a preferred building 10 of the invention has three armoured "walls".

These are a side wall 11 (only partially visible), and end-wall 12 and a roof 13. The roof 13 and the walls 11,12 are hardened in accordance with the invention as will later be described. A window opening 14 in end-wall 12 is surrounded by reinforcement 15. This particular building does not have any door opening to be reinforced. Each end of side-wall 11 has an external reinforcing angle indicated at 16. The ends of roof 13 are comparably reinforced at 17. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the attachment of two buildings together with reinforcement 16 together.

It will be seen that reinforcing angle 16 (as also angle 17) connected to internal reinforcement 18 within the concrete. With two buildings (comparable to building 10) placed together adjoining angles 16 can be welded at 19 to form a secure joint, waterproof to protect the general integrity of the building and providing an additional steel reinforcement at the joint, which might otherwise, be weaker than the rest of the structure.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that a portion of a wall of the building 10 is made by placing a steel sheet 20 against a surface of a mould 21 (for example the type of mould described in our co-pending application No. (Case 2/4). Attachment members 22 are welded to the sheet 20 either before or after its introduction into the mould. These attachment members 22 are further attahced, as by welding, to two layers of conventional reinforcing mesh 23.

Fig. 3 shows how a hardened wall 24 lined with steel 25 can be finished at an opening by the provision of channel section member 26. The member 26 can be connected to steel reinforcement 27.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the nature of such channels as 26 in more detail. Fig. 5 shows a frame which can be disposed within the mould and defined the boundary of a window, such as window 14 (Fig. 1) in a hardened wall. Fig. 6 shows a door frame 28 which can be used to form a door within a hardened wall.

The invention is not limited to the building and method described aforesaid, variations can be made thereto within the scope of the following claims.

For example, the material forming the inner layer of the hardened wall can be a layer of material other than sheet steel. For example, a sheet of steel mesh can be used where a cheaper structure is desired.

Also metals other than steel, or even metal plastics laminate can be used. In a relatively very cheap structure an internal layer of glass reinforced plastics or wood could be used. Whatever material is used, it should have a tensile strength higher than that of concrete in order that in the event that concrete is shattered and tends to move inwardly towards the occupants the inner layer tends to stretch and expand and contain those fragments rather than shatter in the manner of concrete. The connection between the inner layer and the reinforcement within the concrete can be by welding where the lining is of steel plate. However, other forms of connection, as by nults and bolts, fasteners, rivets and or the like are possible.

In relation to the building of Fig. 1 it has been found that a lining of steel 10 mm thick is suitable as the inner layer on the roof, and steel 6 mm thick gives appropriate protection to the walls. The thickness of concrete may be of from 100 up to 250 mm, preferably about 150 mm.

Although described in relation to the building of Fig. 1 and the comparable buildings mentioned in our co-pending application No. (case 3/4) it will be appreciated that the construction and method of the invention do relate to other comparable buildings of varying shapes and sizes.

Claims

1. A building having one or more hardened walls, the or each hardened wall (as herein defined) being composed of a layer of reinforced concrete and an inner layer of a material of tensile strength greater than that of the concrete.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is of sheet steel or steel mesh.

3. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is of wood or glass-reinforced-plastics material.

4. A building as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the inner layer is connected to the reinforcement within the concrete.

5. A building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner layer is of steel plate and the steel plate is welded to reinforcing members within the concrete.

6. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an opening in any hardened wall is provided with additional reinforcement.

7. A building as claimed in claim 6, wherein such reinforcement is in the form of outwardly open steel channel members surrounding the opening.

8. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein exterior edges of hardened walls are provided with a comparable strengthening.

9. A building as claimed in claim 8, wherein such strengthening is in the form of steel enabling building to be united by welding the external reinforcement along a join.

10. A building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of making a hardened building comprising: providing a mould; arranging within the mould, on at least one part of the mould cavity which defines a wall to be hardened, an inner layer of material of tensile strength higher than the tensile strength of the eventual concrete to be cast; attaching reinforcement within that part of the mould cavity to the inner layer and pouring concrete to fill the mould and allowing the concrete to set.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inner layer is of steel and is welded or otherwise connected to steel reinforcement within the concrete.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein steel reinforcing members are provided at selected edges of the reinforced walls to facilitate connection thereof to adjacent units by welding.

14. A building made by a method as claimed in claims 11, 12 or 13.