THE PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF FIELD FORTIFICATIONS AGAINST NEUTRON AND GAMMA RAY FLUX,
Abstract
This experiment was designed to evaluate the protection afforded by field fortifications against the nuclear radiations from atomic weapons. Total gamma and fast and slow neutron dosages were measured in several foxhole type fortifications selected to allow isolation of the principle parameters involved in the shielding phenomena. These installations were exposed at several distances from three air-burst atomic weapons. Gamma dosages were measured with film packets placed in an appropriate array in each fortification. The film packets, shielded by 0.625 inch of aluminum and 0.220 inch of cadmium, responded to all gamma rays possessing energies greater than approximately 60 Kev. Other investigators have used lead to shield the film, recording gamma having energies greater than about 120 Kev. The dosages given in this report are therefore higher by the amount of 60 to 120 Kev gamma received than those found by other experiments, but the ratios of the dosages recorded during this operation to the average dosage of the other operations are constant for corresponding distances from the detonations, allowing direct linear comparisons if it is determined that gamma rays possessing energies of less than 100 Kev do not cause military significant physiological damage. Fast neutron dosages, those caused by neutrons whose energies were greater than 3 Mev, were measured by means of sulfur samples. Slow neutron dosages, caused by neutrons whose energies were less than 10 ev, were measured by means of gold foils. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1952
- Accession Number
- AD0370259
Entities
People
- Thomas G. Walsh
Organizations
- United States Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory