14 May, 2007 (FIDSNS) In 1986 a team of Indian Army officers
visited some countries in Europe to carry out a study on
modernization of ammunition depots with a view to construct cost
effective store houses for ammunition. The team had recommended
Igloo pattern of ammunition store houses, on trial basis, at
some Ammunition Depots. Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) was tasked to develop Igloo type store
houses. Since conventional reinforced concrete cement (RCC) used
for magazines/bunkers is known to have limited ductility and
concrete confinement capabilities, these properties are
especially required for structures subjected to blast and impact
loading environment. DRDO directed the efforts to prove these
properties of RCC. The structural properties of RCC could be
improved by modifying the concrete matrix and by suitably
detailing the reinforcements. Two new construction techniques,
namely Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) and Laced
Reinforced Concrete (LRC) were trial evaluated vis-a-