Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

New Shock Absorption Method For Buildings

Posted by Hemos on from the making-it-stronger dept.

ruszka writes "Researchers at the University of Buffalo have demonstrated a way that spherical beads of different sizes could disperse the energy caused by shock waves, possibly saving the structure of buildings and bridges.. The story is at the University's website and also at PhysicsWeb."

1 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. Missed the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I agree that this stuff is interesting from an engineering standpoint but to even make a connection with the September 11 attacks is just silly.

    Shock from the impact was not what knocked down the Trade Centers it was the heat of the resultant fires melting the steel support structures in the center of the buildings that utlimately caused them to fail.

    Any decent engineer will tell you that it is not realistic to build new or retrofit existing buildings against this sort of attack.