Research

The R&D programmes of PTRC can be broadly grouped into three areas:

• ​Progressive collapse analysis and modelling of steel structures and reinforced concrete
• Underground space development
• Advanced materials and their modelling

The R&D achievements can be broadly classified into four areas:

• Underground Ammunition Facilities (UAF)

  PTRC researchers have been involved with the planning and development of the UAF since its early stage of conceptualisation. A series of NTU-DSTA joint R&D projects have been carried out at PTRC, which address the key engineering issues associated with the various phases of UAF development.

  The engineering issues addressed by PTRC are: i) feasibility of cavern construction within Bukit Timah Granite formation, ii) dynamic rock properties and rock tunnelling methodologies, and iii) operations, monitoring and maintenance of rock caverns. The construction of UAF facilities at Mandai is the most direct evidence indicating the success of these joint R&D projects.

• Structural Protection Against Underground Explosions

  Part and parcel of the UAF development, PTRC researchers have been involved with the establishment of the Inhabited Building Distance (IBD), i.e. safety distance, for surface structures around the Mandai UAF facilities. They have carried out joint R&D projects which address the complex engineering issues associated with the dynamic response of building structures to ground shocks that may be induced by underground explosions.

  The key engineering issues addressed by PTRC are: i) transmission and attenuation of ground shocks in rock and soil media, ii) dynamic response of building structures to ground shocks with various intensities, and iii) assessment of building damage under ground shocks.

  These R&D results have found their way into the real applications. For example, the research results have supported the reduction of IBD distance for Mandai UAF and thus freeing up more of the surface land area. In addition, the methodologies established at PTRC for building damage assessments have now been adopted by NATO code committee as the standard procedures for damage assessments of surface structures.

• Lightweight Blast Doors for Protected Space

  PTRC researchers have successfully developed the design and manufacturing of lightweight blast doors for protected space. The blast door is made of aluminium truss-core section which provides the required rigidity with less weight.

  The prototype blast door developed at PTRC labs have been subjected to the design pressure at a recent field experiment in Australia. The field test results have demonstrated that the lightweight blast door has functioned as required successfully and is ready for application as the shielding of protected space.

• Simulating Penetration of Reinforced Concrete (RC) Slabs

  Via joint R&D projects, which involve numerical as well as experimental investigations, PTRC researchers have successfully developed the constitutive relationships of concrete materials subjected to high-speed impact. These results can be used to simulate the penetration or perforation of reinforced concrete (RC) slabs by a hard projectile.

  The simulated results have compared well with the published data of 2D impact situations. Together with FOI of Sweden, PTRC researchers have recently completed a series of field experiments for 3D oblique impact of RC slabs. The proposed constitutive relationships will be further verified against the FOI test data for real-life applications.