Structure and method for containing the detonation of an explosive

A method for the contained detonation of an explosive which is disposed at a specific location having obstacles proximate to the explosive, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of elongate support members, each elongate support member comprising at least two channels running substantially the entire length of the elongate support member, some of the channels in some of the elongate support members being disposed back to back and some of the channels in some of the elongate support members being disposed at right angles to one another, each of the elongate support members having a plurality of spaced apart apertures, some of the elongate support members comprising a pair of support member portions which are slidably disposed with respect to one another, such that each such support member having a pair of support member portions is adjustable with respect to length;
• (b) providing a plurality of rectangular, planar side wall members, the side wall members having at least two different lengths, the side wall members having four side wall peripheral edges, the roof members comprising a foamed thermoplastic core sandwiched between a pair of metal plates, the roof peripheral edges comprising a plurality of spaced apart apertures, the spaced apart apertures matching the size and location of the apertures in the elongate support members so that, when the peripheral edge of a side wall member is disposed within an elongate support member, fastening pins can be inserted through apertures in the elongate member and apertures in the peripheral edge of the side wall member to securely retain the side wall member within the elongate support member, each side wall member further comprising a pair of opposed long peripheral edges, one of each such long peripheral edges defining a projecting tongue and the opposite long peripheral edge defining a matching groove which is sized and dimensioned to accept and retain an identical tongue disposed upon the long peripheral edge of another roof member;
• (c) providing a plurality of rectangular, planar roof members, the roof members having at least two different lengths, the roof members having four roof peripheral edges, the roof members comprising a foamed thermoplastic core sandwiched between a pair of metal plates, the roof peripheral edges comprising a plurality of spaced apart apertures, the spaced apart apertures matching the size and location of the apertures in the elongate support members so that, when the periphery of a roof member is disposed within an elongate support member, fastening pins can be inserted through an aperture in the elongate member and an aperture in the periphery of the roof member to securely retain the roof member within the elongate support member, each roof member further comprising a pair of opposed long peripheral edges, one of each such long peripheral edges defining a projecting tongue and the opposite long peripheral edge defining a matching groove which is sized and dimensioned to accept and retain a similar tongue disposed upon the long peripheral edge of another roof member;
• (d) providing a plurality of fastening pins;
• and
• (e) providing a plurality of rectangular, planar metal plates;
• (f) assembling a containment structure using the kit, the containment structure being custom designed to surround the explosive and to avoid the obstacles at the location, the containment structure being assembled by:
• (i) constructing side walls which surround an area having the explosive but which avoid the obstacles at the location, the side walls comprising a plurality of side wall members whose side wall peripheral edges are retained within the channels of elongate support members by the fastening pins, each side wall being attached to one or more adjacent side walls by elongate support members;
• (ii) constructing a roof which encloses the area surrounded by the side walls, the roof comprising a plurality of roof members whose roof peripheral edges are retained within the channels of elongate support members by the fastening pins, the roof being attached to the side walls by elongate support members;
• and
• (iii) disposing metal plates in abutment with the side walls and with the roof;
• (g) disposing sandbags around the base of the containment structure;
• and
• (h) thereafter, handling the explosive within the containment structure;
• whereby any inadvertent detonation of the explosive and any resultant shrapnel therefrom is safely contained within the containment structure.

A kit for constructing a modular containment structure, the kit comprising:

• (a) a plurality of elongate support members, each elongate support member comprising at least two channels running substantially the entire length of the elongate support member, some of the channels in some of the elongate support members being disposed back to back and some of the channels in some of the elongate support members being disposed at right angles to one another;
• (b) a plurality of rectangular, planar side wall members, the side wall members having at least two different lengths, the side wall members having four side wall peripheral edges;
• (c) a plurality of rectangular, planar roof members, the roof members having at least two different lengths, the roof members having four roof peripheral edges;
• and
• (d) a plurality of rectangular, planar metal plates.

A modular containment structure comprising a plurality of side walls and a roof,

• (a) the containment structure being assembled from a containment structure kit comprising:
• (i) a plurality of elongate support members, each elongate support member comprising at least two channels running substantially the entire length of the elongate support member, some of the channels in some of the elongate support members being disposed back to back and some of the channels in some of the elongate support members being disposed at right angles to one another;
• (ii) a plurality of rectangular, planar side wall members, the side wall members having at least two different lengths, the side wall members having four side wall peripheral edges;
• (iii) a plurality of rectangular, planar roof members, the roof members having at least two different lengths, the roof members having four roof peripheral edges;
• and
• (iv) a plurality of rectangular, planar metal plates;
• (b) the containment structure being assembled from the modular containment kit by an assembly method comprising the steps of:
• (i) constructing side walls which surround an area having the explosive but which avoid the obstacles at the location, the side walls comprising a plurality of side wall members whose side wall peripheral edges are retained within the channels of elongate support members, each side wall being attached to one or more adjacent side walls by elongate support members;
• (ii) constructing a roof which encloses the area surrounded by the side walls, the roof comprising a plurality of roof members whose roof peripheral edges are retained within the channels of elongate support members, the roof being attached to the side walls by elongate support members;
• and
• (iii) disposing metal plates in abutment with the side walls and with the roof;
• whereby the containment structure is sufficiently strong to contain shrapnel from the explosion of a 75 mm Mk II chemical round.