Get you up to speed: New technology may safeguard public buildings against terrorist threats – find out how | News UK
Researchers from the University of Sheffield have developed a new blast prediction tool to enhance safety assessments following the Manchester Arena bombing and improve public space protection.
Engineers from the University of Sheffield have developed a blast prediction tool that enhances safety assessments under Martyn’s Law, potentially saving lives in public spaces.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield are integrating their blast prediction tool into the Steel Construction Institute’s EMBlast software to enhance building safety assessments.
What we know so far
New technology being developed by engineers at the University of Sheffield aims to enhance safety in public spaces by predicting the impact of bomb blasts. This innovation follows the tragic Manchester Arena bombing, which claimed 22 lives in 2017, and seeks to improve security measures across stadiums and shopping centres.
The blast prediction tool can provide vital insights into the potential damage caused by explosions in confined areas, as well as support safety assessments mandated by Martyn’s Law. This legislation, enacted to protect the public from terrorist attacks, establishes preparedness requirements for certain venues and events.
Researchers emphasise that their approach is not only faster but also more accurate than current methods used by government agencies. The tool has the potential to inform the design of buildings capable of withstanding explosions, thereby reducing injuries and structural damage during attacks.
As the team collaborates with the Steel Construction Institute to integrate the tool into existing safety software, there are expectations that this advancement will significantly improve the UK’s response to bomb threats. Dr Andrew Barr highlighted that traditional methods often underestimate the destructive power of explosions in enclosed spaces, and this new model aims to change that.
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This new technology could protect public buildings from terrorist attacks – here’s how | News UK
Public spaces such as stadiums and shopping centres will soon be better protected from terror attacks thanks to new technology.
The blast prediction tool can save lives by predicting what level of damage an explosion will likely cause in public buildings and transport hubs, according to researchers from the University of Sheffield.
The technology could also support safety assessments after Martyn’s Law, legislation which passed following the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000 in 2017.
University of Sheffield engineers, who developed the tool to predict the impact of bomb blasts, say it could also be utilised to develop materials that could be placed around explosives to reduce their energy.
They have shown that the tool is more accurate and faster than methods currently used by government agencies to predict the damage of a bomb.
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The researchers, from Sheffield’s Blast and Impact Group, say it can predict the impact any explosion will likely have in any confined space.
Their findings, published in the journal Process Safety and Environmental Protection, show it could also be used to predict the structural damage and injuries a bomb blast would cause.
The team say the tool could be used to help design buildings and infrastructure that are better equipped to withstand explosions by reducing structural damage and potential injuries to people nearby.
Following recent bomb attacks, engineers and government agencies have been urgently seeking quick-running tools to help them predict, and ideally proactively prevent casualties.
The Sheffield team explained that a key aspect is being able to predict the pressure that is generated by a blast in confined spaces, where blast wave reflections from walls and other objects can increase its magnitude and duration.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, known as Martyn’s Law after Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, was enshrined in UK law last year to better protect the public from terrorism.
It requires certain public premises and events to be prepared and ready to keep people safe in the event of an attack.
The new model could enable the rapid assessment of multiple potential scenarios, even when the exact mass or composition of the explosive is not known.
Sheffield engineers are working with the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) to incorporate the model into their EMBlast software, which is used by the industry for predicting blast effects on buildings.
Dr Andrew Barr said: ‘Explosions inside buildings can be far more destructive than those in open air. When high-pressure shockwaves hit walls and other obstacles, they bounce back and interact, creating a sustained pressure that can cause severe injuries and major structural damage.
‘Engineers assessing these threats have typically relied on look-up charts developed decades ago for TNT explosions. These methods are fast, but they can’t be easily adapted to other explosive types or scenarios.
‘Our new predictive tool simulates the mechanical, thermal and chemical processes behind this dangerous pressure build-up, giving engineers and safety specialists a more accurate picture of the potential consequences of an explosion.’
His colleague, Dr Dain Farrimond, said: ‘We hope to use this knowledge to help develop materials that can be placed around explosives to safely reduce their destructive energy.
‘We would then also be able to model the blast-reducing effects of these materials by adapting the predictive tool, further assisting quick decision-making by engineers and government agencies.’
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