Designing new metals
December 3, 2004 | Source: KurzweilAI
The Office of Naval Research and Northwestern University researchers are exploring new approaches to designing metals for effective blast shielding by identifying the desired characteristics of the steel, then looking at elementary molecular-level composition of materials to determine the optimal mix of metallic ingredients needed.
The new BlastAlloy-160 is intended for use in fabrication of a folded-plate truss, a blast-resistant steel structure that could be used in construction of a rugged vehicle, safe room, trash receptacle, and Boeing 747 cargo bay.