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Structural Risk
Blast Services
The Extreme Loads group has unique capabilities and extensive
experience in the areas of explosion effects and blast resistant
design. ABS Consulting has been actively involved in threat
assessments for commercial, Department of Defense (DoD) and
other government agencies as well as R&D efforts for analysis
tools and mitigation methods including alternative terrorist
devices, glass hazard mitigation, blast load simulators,
and blast containment chambers. Commercial clients include
many of the major petrochemical companies including Shell,
BP, Union Carbide, Chevron, Exxon/Mobil, Texaco, ARAMCO,
and Valero as well as other commercial companies such as
Verizon and Golden Saks. Government clients include GSA,
DEA, DOJ, Naval Facilities Engineering Services Center, Coast
Guard, Corps of Engineers, DOS, and nuclear facilities in
support of NRC Regulatory requirements.
Blast-related services include:
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Blast Load Prediction (3-D hydrocode and 3-D
computational fluid dynamics)
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Dispersion Modeling
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Advanced Finite Element Analysis: Nonlinear static
(P-D , plasticity), and nonlinear transient dynamic (implicit
and explicit numerical methods)
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Blast Resistant Building Design
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Structural Upgrades/Retrofit Design for Blast Loads
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Window Upgrades/Retrofit for Blast
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Explosion Testing and Similitude Modeling
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Physical Security Services: Threat assessment, force
protection, perimeter protection system design, blast
effects evaluations/design
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AT/FP Assessment for DoD Construction
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Progressive Collapse Evaluation
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Explosion Accident/Incident Investigations
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Blast-related Software Development
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Blast Containment Vessel Design and Fabrication Support
ABS Consulting regularly performs consequence assessments
for terrorist bomb threats. Typical scope includes threat
scenario development in accordance with applicable criteria,
blast load prediction, structural damage assessment, design
of blast resistant structures or upgrades to improve blast
capacity, drawing preparation and review, and construction
support. A written report is prepared by ABS Consulting to
document the design basis, applicable criteria.
ABS Consulting prepares perimeter security protection options
including bollards, planters, and cable systems. It also
provides glazing hazard mitigation design based on its field
and test range experience. ABS Consulting has developed and
conducted tests on more than 300 window assemblies to determine
performance under blast load conditions. ABS Consulting has
recently completed several terrorist threat assessments for
nuclear power plants as well as refineries and chemical plants
to improve resistance to vehicle penetration and enforce
stand-off distances, which minimize damage to structures.
Each senior staff member has an excess of 20 years experience
in blast resistant design and analysis. ABS Consulting staff
is actively involved in professional groups developing codes
and standards for blast resistant design including the current
development of ASCE's Blast Resistant Design Standard. The
staff has a working knowledge of blast design criteria including
the Interagency Security Committee's Security Design Criteria
and the Department of State. Staff members have been contributing
authors for a number of technical manuals for blast resistant
design including DOE/TIC-11268 "Blast and Fragment
Loadings on Structures," TM5-1300 "Structures
to Resist the Effects of Accidental Explosions," and
ASCE's "Design of Blast Resistant Buildings in Petrochemical
Facilities."
For more information, contact:
Darrell Barker
Vice President and Business Unit Manager
1-210-495-5195 | dbarker@absconsulting.com
Nathan Gould, D.Sc., P.E., S.E.
Chief of Technology
1-314-994-7007 | ngould@absconsulting.com
Business Development Team:
Mikael Kallros, P.E., S.E.
West Coast and International
1-714-734-4242 | mkallros@absconsulting.com
Mark Mainridge
Rockies
1-303-674-2990 | mmainridge@absconsulting.com
Mark Whitney
South
1-210-495-5195 | mwhitney@absconsulting.com |
