Reinforced Concrete in the Great Explosion

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 11, 1 July 1917, Page 1026

Reinforced Concrete in the Great Explosion

In a report, in the periodical called “Fire,” upon the effects upon buildings of the explosion at a munitions factory, it is stated that the triumph of reinforced concrete construction is the most striking feature of the catastrophe. Not only have such structures within the explosion area withstood the effect of the air wave, but they came through the ordeal of fire successfully.

The stool reinforcement within the concrete enabled the buildings to give slightly to the air wave when it struck the buildings; the windows caved in. The reverberating air entered, and, expanding, passed through the opposite windows, thereby helping to straighten up the main structure again, although fire was left behind. The fractures in the structure are only where the hires were fiercest, owing to the nature of the contents.

Brick structures collapsed ignominiously, being pulled inward by the floor and roof joists and girders. But brick chimney stacks, because they have no upper strain, without exception exist practically undamaged, having been able to give slightly to the force of the air wave and then spring back to perpendicularity.

Tho roofs of buildings, including’ dwelling-houses, were lifted by the excess internal air pressure set up by the air blast passing in through windows and doorways. Not all the 100.000 windows broken were blown in ; many were blown out by the advance wave entering open doors and creating a preliminary high internal pressure, sufficient to burst out some windows, before the main blast arrived and blew in the remaining windows.

Wore it permissible, Ave would reproduce photographs of the area showing how wonderfully reinforced concrete withstood the shock of the huge explosion. but this is one of the things that must be deferred until after the "War.

Hadn't Harmed Them. —Visitor — “My good man, yon keep your nio-p, much too near the house.” Cottager— “ That’s hist what the doctor said, mum. But I don’t see how it’s agoin’ to hurt ’em.”