Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

Recent events around the world have demonstrated the vulnerability of existing buildings and infrastructure tox000D
blast loads caused by explosions. Blast loads have traditionally not been considered in the design of buildingsx000D
in Canada, and there exists an important need to develop cost-effective methods to retrofit vulnerable structuresx000D
(Government offices, Embassies, etc.) to improve blast performance and ensure safety.x000D
Masonry walls are used in many older buildings as either non-load bearing (infill) walls, or as structuralx000D
load-bearing walls. Modern codes require minimum steel reinforcement for masonry walls, but older buildingsx000D
have no such requirement. As a result, unreinforced masonry walls (URM) in many existing buildingsx000D
throughout Canadian cities and towns have very low resistance to out-of-plane blast loading. Moreover, failurex000D
under low blast pressures can lead to the formation of flying debris travelling at high speeds that can injurex000D
occupants.x000D
This project will examine the potential of using an innovative shotcrete (Engineered Fiber Reinforcedx000D
Shotcrete) developed by KING Shotcrete Solutions to enhance the blast performance of existing URM walls.x000D
This high-performance, fiber-reinforced, pre-packaged and sprayable shotcrete has been developed for use as ax000D
protective liner in underground tunnels to protect against high-intensity rockbursts caused by earthquakes. Duex000D
to the provision of short fibers, the engineered shotcrete has very high toughness and energy-absorptionx000D
capacity, making it ideal for extreme blast load applications. The protective design will involve application of ax000D
thin layer of Engineered Fiber Reinforced Shotcrete as a rapid and cost-effective blast retrofit method for URMx000D
walls. As part of the project, physical testing of full-scale retrofitted walls under blast loads will be conductedx000D
using the University of Ottawa Shock-tube, which is capable of safely and accurately simulating thex000D
shockwaves generated by explosions. The project will result in an innovative retrofit method that will open upx000D
new market opportunities for this shotcrete product, and increase the blast safety of buildings in Canada.