Blow Stuff Up, Indoors
marmaluke writes: "Check out this story at Techtv.com. They built an explosion containment facility at Lawrence Livermore Lab that can take a punch and won't wake up the neighbors. They are going to use it for 'assessing the performance of the non-nuclear, or "primary," component in stockpiled nuclear weapons.' I just think it would be cool to have a little room to blow stuff up in! Anyone got any old PCs that you just don't know what to do with?" Also sounds like a good Dr. No / Dr. Evil unseen-extermination chamber.
Interesting that they've gone for a cheaper, more conventional construction. They used conventional reinforced concrete and a rectangular building, over the more blast-efficient spherical shape using layered concrete. They are using mild steel over armour plate to halve the cost, yet maintain 85% penetration resistance.
Also, the "of the various blast attenuation systems studied, the least expensive one, a rubber doormat-type material, proved to be the only acceptable option."
Now, do they accept on-line ordering?
--Tim