The Distribution and History of Temperature in Circular Cylinders Exposed to the Thermal Radiation Pulse of a Nuclear Detonation
Abstract
Temperature distribution histories were calculated in detail for cylinders exposed to the thermal radiation pulse from a low altitude nuclear weapon detonation. Results are presented in terms of dimensionless groups and charts covering a wide range of the parameters - weapon yield, radiant exposure, cylinder wall thickness, outer radius, and material. The temperatures are for circular cylinders whose absorbance, thermal conductivity, density and specific heat are constant with temperature and time. The effect of convective cooling on maximum temperature is considered separately and shown to be small for cylinders of practical application and was not used in the dimensionless presentations. The dimensionless charts of this report can be used to determine temperatures in cylindrical structural elements exposed to the thermal radiation pulse. This report shows what effect the changes in cylinder or weapon parameters have on the manner in which temperature is distributed in cylinders. The rear half of a cylinder exposed to a nuclear weapon thermal radiation pulse is unheated and the front half is heated in a spatially non-uniform manner. Therefore, internal heat conduction and the resultant temperature distribution histories in cylinders are more complex than for simpler elements such as flat plates. The influence of parameter changes on the internal heat transfer and the resulting temperature distributions and histories will be discussed to give insight into the selection of cylindrical elements to withstand a nuclear weapons attack.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 14, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0728751
Entities
People
- Donald M. Wilson
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory