Concrete for BTS, Blast, and EMP Protection to Be Released

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed concrete with bulletproof, blast-resistant, and EMP protection functions. Previously, multiple protective measures had to be devised for each threat, but this concrete enables various protections at once. The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology announced on the 9th that it has developed such concrete.

The newly developed concrete exhibits excellent resistance to blast pressure and bullet penetration. In dynamic impact strength tests measuring blast shock, it withstood compressive strength of over 300 MPa and tensile (pull) strength of over 45 MPa. This level of protection is about three times higher compared to ordinary concrete.

The institute produced actual protective structures using this concrete and conducted verification experiments on protection capabilities against army rifles, machine guns, tank shells, and explosives. As a result, it showed at least 2.5 times greater penetration resistance compared to regular reinforced concrete. Additionally, in a TNT 125kg explosion test, it was confirmed to have almost no damage. In contrast, reinforced concrete structures were completely destroyed in this test.

This concrete can also block electromagnetic waves by utilizing slag aggregates containing some metal components and binders. It has the ability to protect against EMP attacks. In EMP protection performance tests, a 60 dB electromagnetic wave shielding performance was confirmed at a thickness of 100 mm. The institute further applied shielding coatings containing carbon nanomaterials to secure a performance level of over 80 dB, which meets the EMP protection requirements for military facilities.

The institute stated that the new multifunctional protective structure technology can be applied not only to military facilities but also to civilian sectors. In particular, it can protect critical information and communication infrastructure such as national backbone communication networks, broadcasting stations, financial networks, and large hospitals with many essential electronic devices for life support from attacks such as terrorism or electronic warfare in emergencies.

Senior Researcher Sungwook Kim said, "The new multifunctional protective structure technology will be effective in ensuring the stable growth of the advanced information and communication industry and protecting the lives of citizens and national assets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.