TITLE: Engineered Building Materials

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Infrastructure Protection, Damage Mitigation

OBJECTIVE: To develop technologies, devices, systems that will prevent or mitigate damage from explosions, kinetic attacks, or deliberate fires against bridges, tunnels, or other critical infrastructure.

DESCRIPTION: DHS is seeking technologies, devices, and systems that can prevent or mitigate damage from blasts, projectiles, and fire. Of particular interest are materials that can be used to construct/protect critical built infrastructures such as bridges, tunnels, and buildings. These materials should be able to withstand explosive/kinetic/or thermal attacks while protecting the structural integrity of the target. The materials may accomplish this through yielding, stiffening, or absorption of energy. Approaches may include nano-engineered materials, or other tailored materials. Novel applications or combinations of existing materials may be proposed. Energy absorbing connections for use with blast resistant panels are also of interest.

PHASE I: The technology and concept of operations should be proposed. The proposer should demonstrate a full understanding of the threat being addressed and the rationale behind candidate technological solutions, and will offer a promising material solution. A full or scale model of the solution should be presented, with actual or hypothetical (modeled) test results.

PHASE II: In Phase II, the developer will demonstrate the material or system in a simulated operational environment. DHS research facilities, such as the Transportation Security Laboratory, may assist in this Phase. The developer is expected to use the test results to optimize the technology or system. This will be followed by additional evaluation of the optimized technology, to possibly include a larger scale installation and demonstration. The developer is also expected to develop a plan for commercialization in a potential Phase 111.

PHASE III COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The commercialization of the technology or system is the responsibility of the developer. DHS S&T will monitor the development of the commercial product and may after successful testing, place the device on a qualified products list. Potential customers include federal agencies, state, local, and commercial authorities, sate and local law enforcement agencies, and foreign governments.

KEY WORDS: blast mitigation, bridges, tunnels, infrastructure, nanotechnology, engineered building materials