Blast-resistant reinforced cementitious panels and reinforcing structures for use therein

Abstract

Blast-resistant reinforced cementitious panels are disclosed. The panels include reinforcing structures including wire grid assemblies and connecting wires. The reinforcing structures may be pre-formed prior to the addition of the cementitious material to the reinforcing structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reinforcing structure for a blast-resistant cementitious panel comprising:
 a first wire grid assembly comprising an exterior wire grid and an interior wire grid spaced from the exterior wire grid;   a second wire grid assembly spaced from the first wire grid assembly comprising at least an exterior wire grid; and   a plurality of connecting wires attached to the wire grids of the first and second wire grid assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first wire grid assembly is substantially planar, the second wire grid assembly is substantially planar, and the planes of the first and second wire grid assemblies are substantially parallel with each other. 
     
     
         3 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 2 , wherein the second wire grid assembly further comprises an interior wire grid, and each of the plurality of connecting wires is attached to the exterior and interior wire grids of the first wire grid assembly and the exterior and interior wire grids of the second wire grid assembly by welding. 
     
     
         4 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of connecting wires are substantially perpendicular to the planes of the first and second wire grid assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 3 , further comprising a first plurality of reinforcing rods located between the exterior and interior wire grids of the first wire grid assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 5 , further comprising a second plurality of reinforcing rods located between the exterior and interior wire grids of the second wire grid assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior and interior grids of the first and second wire grid assemblies comprise wires having diameters of from 1 to 7 mm, the plurality of connecting wires have diameters of from 1 to 7 mm, and the first and second pluralities of reinforcing rods have diameters of from 8 to 40 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second wire grid assemblies are spaced apart from 1 to 20 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior and interior wire grids of the first wire grid assembly are spaced apart substantially the same distance as a diameter of the first plurality of reinforcing rods located therebetween, and the exterior and interior grids of the second wire grid assembly are spaced apart substantially the same distance as a diameter of the second plurality of reinforcing rods located therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second pluralities of reinforcing rods are held in position by frictional engagement with the wire grids. 
     
     
         11 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second pluralities of reinforcing rods are attached to the wire grids by welding and/or mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior and interior wire grids of the first wire grid assembly are spaced apart from 8 to 40 mm, and the exterior and interior wire grids of the second wire grid assembly are spaced apart from 8 to 40 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior and interior wire grids of the first and second wire grid assemblies comprise perpendicular wires forming substantially rectangular openings with heights of from 20 to 200 mm and widths of from 20 to 200 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second pluralities of reinforcing bars are substantially parallel with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the structure has an overall thickness of from 6.5 to 30 cm, a height of from 1.5 to 10 m, and a width of from 1 to 5 m. 
     
     
         16 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second wire grid assemblies, the plurality of connecting wires, and the first and second pluralities of reinforcing rods comprise steel. 
     
     
         17 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a third wire grid assembly between the first and second wire grid assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of foam between the first wire grid assembly and the second wire grid assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The reinforcing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure is pre-formed prior to addition of a cementitious material to the structure. 
     
     
         20 . A reinforced blast-resistant cementitious panel comprising:
 a cementitious material; and   a reinforcing structure in the cementitious material, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises:
 a first wire grid assembly comprising an exterior wire grid and an interior wire grid spaced from the exterior wire grid; 
 a second wire grid assembly spaced from the first wire grid assembly comprising at least an exterior wire grid; and 
 a plurality of connecting wires attached to the wire grids of the first and second wire grid assemblies. 
   
     
     
         21 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 20 , wherein the first wire grid assembly is embedded in the cementitious material a distance of from 0.25 to 7.5 cm from a first planar surface of the panel, and the second wire grid assembly is embedded in the cementitious material a distance of from 0.25 to 7.5 cm from a second planar surface of the panel opposite from the first planar surface of the panel. 
     
     
         22 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 20 , wherein the cementitious material comprises Portland cement, pozzolanic cement, coal fly ash and/or ground granulated blast furnace slag. 
     
     
         23 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 20 , wherein the cementitious material comprises concrete. 
     
     
         24 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 20 , wherein the cementitious material includes reinforcing fibers dispersed therein comprising carbon fibers, aramid fibers, polymeric fibers, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, kevlar fibers and/or basalt fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 24 , wherein the reinforcing fibers comprise nylon. 
     
     
         26 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 24 , wherein the reinforcing fibers have lengths of from 1.25 to 15 cm and are present in the cementitious material in an amount of from 0.05 to 2.5 weight percent based on the total weight of the cementitious material. 
     
     
         27 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 20 , wherein the reinforced panel has a compressive strength of greater than 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         28 . The reinforced cementitious panel of  claim 20 , further comprising a layer of foam embedded in the cementitious material between the first wire grid assembly and the second wire grid assembly. 
     
     
         29 . A method of making a reinforced blast-resistant cementitious panel comprising introducing a flowable cementitious material to a pre-formed reinforcing structure and allowing the cementitious material to cure, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises:
 a first wire grid assembly comprising an exterior wire grid and an interior wire grid spaced from the exterior wire grid;   a second wire grid assembly spaced from the first wire grid assembly comprising at least an exterior wire grid; and   a plurality of connecting wires attached to the wire grids of the first and second wire grid assemblies.