Construction Chamber promotes physical infrastructure protection system

VSL India (Pvt) Ltd. and VSL Australia, subsidiaries of VSL International of Switzerland, will make a presentation on physical infrastructure protection at the seminar on ‘Recent Trends in Concrete Construction,’ which will be held on October 31.

VSL is a specialist construction partner with considerable expertise in large-scale construction projects. Over the last 5 years, VSL’s special division in infrastructure protection has been developing solutions for protecting new and existing infrastructure based on a material technology called Ductal.

Ductal is a new generation material containing a large quantity of fine steel fibres in a cementitious matrix, which gives it exceptional resistance to blast and impact.

This has been demonstrated through large-scale blast trials, close charge testing and ballistic ratings.
Recent large-scale blast tests of Ductal Protection Panels using 5t of TNT demonstrated Ductal’s exceptional energy absorbing characteristics. Other tests have been undertaken to demonstrate the behaviour of this material when exposed to close charge blasts, with no fragmentation or breach of the panel. Ductal Protection Panels have achieved multiple ballistic certifications after successfully protecting against mortar fragments and armour piercing projectiles.

VSL Protection Solutions are engineered for multi-threat protection using the material technology Ductal. This technology allows for flexible design customised to the client’s requirements. Solutions can be constructed on site or provided in kit-set form.

VSL recently completed a perimeter protection structure in a high treat location to protect a critical building from VIED, vehicle born improvised explosive devices. VSL successfully delivered an economic protection solution to a government client by providing design, fabrication and supply service in a single package.

VSL expert engineers conducted state-of-the-art finite element analysis and 3D modelling of the structure to determine the structural loads, as well as construction requirements, within an extremely difficult environment.

The solution utilised prefabricated Ductal Protection Panels with a thickness of only 100mm and weighing 250kg/m2 as the primary barrier to the threat.

Panels are supported by a custom-designed steel structure. The entire protection solution was delivered in kit-set form in standard shipping containers. The kit-set design and detailed installation manual ensures simple construction, which can be undertaken by the client using their own resources.

The VSL Protection Solutions technical centre is currently developing solutions for relocatable accommodation and storage containers, critical pipeline protection, and modular up-grade solutions to existing infrastructure, including perimeter walling and external cladding.
Developments are undertaken in collaboration with government agencies and independent experts in the field of infrastructure protection.

The VSL Protection Solution Group will provide preliminary design and feasibility analysis through to project delivery and project management services.