A New Generation of Energy-Absorbing Anti-Terrorism Crash Barrier Technology for Homeland Security

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 10, 2009 – KKCS Team of security experts, is about to take bids for an innovative Surface Barrier (SB) Security System made of decorative reinforced concrete street furniture. SB technology provides a physical barrier for gradually decelerating terrorists attacking with truck-borne explosives. Design impact from a Ford F800 truck weighing 15,000 pounds and traveling at over 50 mph has been fully stopped in less than two feet.

Crash validations proved the SB performance to be at Department of Homeland Security Technical Readiness Level 9 for securing surface perimeters of buildings as well as any other crucial facilities. SB technology is fully certified to meet both the Department of State (DOS) K12 rating as well as ASTM F 2656-07 (M50) standards. Both certifications require preventing a 15,000 lbs median-duty truck from breaching any security perimeter at 50mph. Truck bed was stopped 14 feet away back from the required security perimeter by DOS K12 with L3 rating.

According to Marc Caspe, SE, Manager of Engineering and Dr. Jun Ji, PE, Senior Engineer at KKCS, many buildings and bridges have limited space between the major structural members and an adjacent roadway. The proposed SB security system can be placed as close to the roadway curb as possible, keeping any explosive detonation as far from the structural columns as possible to permit blast overpressure decay. Dr. Ji also pointed out that the new SB provides 14 feet extra blast stand-off distance between the security perimeter and truck bed after crash, offering significant safety redundancy by dissipating blast overpressure to much lower level than other conventional barriers.  

Dr. Qian Wang, PE, LEED AP, Engineer at KKCS mentioned that the innovative concept of energy dissipation can best be accomplished by calibrating the deceleration force to gradually stop the attacking truck. By exerting a relatively constant “calibrated force,” a SB can stop a terrorist vehicle’s explosive bearing truck bed at a secure perimeter from an attacked building or infrastructure.  

Such SB system is environment friendly, especially in urban areas. Dr. Lin Shen, PE, Engineer at KKCS said that “the SB is compatible with any landscape architecture desired when cast as concrete benches, planters, bike racks, parking meters, lamp posts, etc. to beautify any desired cityscape design. All shop-precast concrete will be environmentally friendly, with additives that reduce cement use by more than 50 percent.”  

For the new SB security systems, existing slab-on-grade sidewalk diaphragms can serve as horizontal concrete restraints and deep seated soil anchors can provide vertical restraints. SB barriers thereby attain a uniquely resilient security level. High tech impact analyses utilizing physical-based Finite Element Software Abaqus or LS-DYNA for performance simulations, can account for both of impact forces as well as perimeter incursion by catapulting explosives from the truck bed.