Theoretical Investigation of Nuclear Burst Phenomena
Abstract
The study has been concerned with developing improvements in the physics and in the numerical treatment of the equations governing the dynamics of the plasma produced by a nuclear burst. The studies of the motion of the plasma were based primarily on the Navier-Stokes equations which are applicable at low altitudes where the plasma is a continuum. Considerations were also given to the high altitude rarefied flow regime. Studies were made of the radiative properties of high temperature gases and also of new techniques for the calculation of radiative transfer. We have found that one can apply the complete time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations to the calculation of a spherically symmetric explosion and that no artificial viscosity is present in the solution. In order to maintain desired accuracy, a new mesh size restriction must be imposed, namely that the local spatial mesh utilized in the computations must be of the order of the local mean free path in the gas. In this study, there has also been a successful demonstration of the numerical solution of the time- dependent radiation transfer equation rather than the usual 'steady state' formulation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0864107
Entities
People
- Douglas H. Sampson
- John L. Kulander
- Paul Gordon
- Robert T. Liner Jr.
- Sinclaire M. Scala
Organizations
- General Electric