Safety Window Shield to Protect against External Explosions

摘要

This paper describes the conceptual design, predicted performance, anddevelopment plan for a new lost-cost design concept being developed for safety windows in both new and existing buildings. The concept protects the building interior against effects from accidental explosions outside the building, including blast overpressures, fragments, and debris. The shield transfers the applied window loads to the wall-ceiling and wall-floor joints where the building is inherently strong. This vastly reduces collateral building damage and the probability of structural collapse from an explosion. The design concept is a polycarbonate shield mounted in a steel frame suspended immediately behind the window opening from steel cables connected to the ceiling and floor. Energy absorbers and lead mass concealed inside the frame control dynamic response of the shield to an explosion. The cables restrain the shield to protect the building interior during the critical time when blast overpressures, casing fragments, glass shards, and debris act on the window.