SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR'S REPORT OF ATOMIC WEAPON TESTS AT ENIWETOK, 1951. ANNEX 1.6. BLAST MEASUREMENTS. PART III. PRESSURE NEAR GROUND LEVEL. SECTIONS 1 AND 2.
Abstract
Peak pressures in the Mach region at various distances are reported for Dog, Easy, and George Shots of Operation Greenhouse. The pressures were calculated from measurements of the times of arrival of the blast wave at predetermined points. Differentiating these results produced the velocity of the blast wave from which the peak pressure could be calculated, assuming Rankine-Hugoniot shock conditions. At pressures above 10 psi on Dog and Easy Shots, anomalies in the pressure-distance curve indicated that at the higher pressures the blast wave was a composite wave instead of a single shock. A slow rise to peak pressure was recorded by pressure-time instruments located at roughly the same radial distance but nearer to the ground. Shock conditions, therefore, did not exist near the ground, and calculations of maximum pressure were made on the basis that the wave was adiabatic in type rather than a shock. The anomalies, if present, in George Shot data were so small that, lacking pressure-time information, it was impossible to decide whether or not it was a shock. The results were calculated as true shock phenomena. Equivalent radiochemical tonnage as calculated from velocity measurements are Dog Shot, 95 kt; Easy Shot, 46 kt; and George Shot, 290 kt. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1951
- Accession Number
- AD0384962
Entities
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory