Experimental investigation of cable catcher systems for office building blast protection

High performance cable catcher systems are an effective means of protecting office building

windows and façades from effects of explosive blast. This paper presents experimental results for

the response a simple cable catcher system subject to impact loads delivered using a drop-hammer

testing facility. The objectives of this experimental programme were to investigate the loaddeformation

behaviour of steel strand cables and to evaluate the dynamic performance of cable

catcher systems in reference to their ability to absorb blast energy. Two steel cable arrangements

(compacted and normal spiral strand) have been tensile tested in order to provide load-deformation

curves as well as experimental values for the breaking load and Modulus of Elasticity. The cable

catcher systems with rigid attachments as well as using simple energy absorbing connections were

tested under impact loading. It was found that different cable arrangements have different failure

modes while properties such as the cable breaking load and Modulus of Elasticity are vital in

determining the capacity and behaviour of cable catcher systems under loading. Through impact

testing, it was found that simple energy absorbing devices are highly effective in reducing the

tensile force experienced by the cables. These devices limit the force in the cables to below

breaking load and also provide a longer impact time which reduces the likelihood of the cables

failing, but also slicing the failed glass panel upon impact.