The Engineer’s Response to Terrorism

New Questions and Responsibilities

Joseph Auchter

Matt Ventura

Sladana Lazic

Anita Lazic

Michelle Hood

Daniel Miller

Terrorism: A Rising Threat

September 11, 2001Worldwide revision of engineering prioritiesTerrorism and sabotage enter the equation

Engineering’s New Concerns

Traditional concerns: Mechanical failure Human error Malfunction Natural occurrences

Weather, natural disasters

New issues: Terrorist acts Deliberate sabotage

New Tools and Methods

Risk assessment Help with allocation of limited resources

Work closely with security agencies Courses teach how to evaluate terrorist threat

Information Increased dialogue More careful dissemination

New standards and building codes

Nuclear Power

What if aircraft crashes into a nuclear containment structure?Aircraft engine tests have been conducted

by Sandia National LaboratoriesJet aircraft unlikely to penetrate

containment structures at 550 to 600 mphNuclear power plants have four security

layers

Nuclear Power

What about transportation casks security? full-scale drop from nine meters onto a

target thermal test in which the cask was

engulfed in a 1,475°F fire for 30 min full-scale rail test in which the cask was

smashed into a concrete block at 81 mph

Structures World Trade Center

What went wrong 2/3 of support columns shattered Debris penetrated each building’s core Steel loses strength above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit

Vulnerabilities Floor trusses were flimsy Frame system connections were weak Designed to precise specifications

Structural redundancy

The Pentagon Survived better than expected Features in original design

Made of cast-in-place reinforced concrete Floors made of slab system Supported on spiral-steel-reinforced columns Limited “progressive collapse”

StructuresWhat can be learned Resistance to progressive collapse is critical Fire protection systems need to be in place

– Sabotage– Adequate thresholds– Multiple ignitions

Can buildings be designed to withstand such attacks

Engineers against Terrorism in Aviation

Smart materials that can mend a bullet hole by self-healing

Materials that are “harder to breach, harder to damage, and less susceptible to fire”

Use of improved fuels that are less volatile.

Engineers against Terrorism in Aviation

“Bullet-and-bomb-proofed door” between pilot and cabin“Protective bubble” around national assets“Automatic ground collision avoidance system”New method of Instrument flying called RNP (Required Navigation Performance)

A Map of Power Plants

The United States has five types of power plants

Gas

Coal

Oil

Hydroelectric

Nuclear

How Power Gets Around

Water System

Under protected

Controlled by Computer Systems

Flaws are Public Information

The Role of Engineering in Preventing Chemical and

Biological TerrorismChemical and Genetic Engineering Implement new and improved detection mechanisms Develop Faster Decontamination Methods Develop New Vaccines and Anti-Viruses Expand Research on genetic mutations and gene manipulation

Materials Engineering Develop and Improve chemical and biological repellent material Improve Chemical/Biological Agent Shields, Mask, and Air Filtering

Capabilities.

The Role of Engineering in Preventing Chemical and

Biological TerrorismMechanical Engineering Develop faster and more effective anti-biological/chemical weapon

deployment systems and mechanisms. Develop safer storage protection capabilities

Civil Engineering Improve and Expand structures that shield chemical and biological

attacks

Conclusion

Questions raised by terrorism:How do we measure the threat potential?Who decides the “acceptable risk”?How many safety measures are enough?How do we deal with the unpredictable

nature of terrorist acts?

Engineers have new responsibilities