Iranian Concrete

Rarely does the world of civil engineering interface with the world of geopolitics.  The current issue of the Economist has an excellent article on the rare intersection - - concrete happens to be the interface point.  The article, Smart Concrete, looks at the world of Iranian concrete.  It seems Iran makes some of the world's toughest concrete.  Concrete that is designed to cope with earthquakes, but which also has the potential to deal with bunker-busting bombs.

Iran is good at making "ultra-high performance concrete" (UHPC) because it is in an earthquake zone with a history of concrete and material engineering.  Its' engineers have developed some of the toughest building materials in the world.  Researchers at Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamada have focused on polypropylene fibers to give their concrete the flexibility to absorb far heavier blows than regular concrete.  They are also looking at nanoparticles to "bomb-proof" the internal structure of concrete.  Engineers at Islamic Azad University in Saveh have published several papers on how to enhance concrete with different types of metal-oxide nanoparticles.

Going up against the civil engineers are the bomb designers.  The article pointed out that a 13 ton bomb exists that reportedly can break through 60 meters of ordinary concrete.  Against UHPC, the bomb is less effective - - penetrating only eight meters.  Computer modelling supports both groups of engineers - - who has the best simulations will be critical.  It would be embarrassing if the Iranian nuclear production facilities and bunkers were still intact when the smoke cleared.  It boils down to a battle of engineers - - the builders versus the busters.