A review on the use of polymeric coatings for retrofitting of structural elements against blast effects

Abstract

An increase in terrorist activities, accidental explosions and the proliferation of weapons in recent years has made infrastructures across the globe more vulnerable to extreme impulsive loadings. Both in research and in practice, strengthening by the use of composite laminates such as fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) has been the most popular technique for strengthening structures facing the risk of blast loads. Alternatively, in recent years, researchers have been working towards the possibility of using elastomeric polymer coatings for structural retrofitting applications since they show the potential in enhancing blast and impact resistance of structural elements. However, the knowledge o..