Body and Surface Waves from Multiple Near-Simultaneous Nuclear Explosions
Abstract
We perform numerical simulations of multiple near-simultaneous explosions, and evaluate the effect of the close location in time and space on body and surface waves. We perform a set of 2D axisymmetric calculations of double and triple explosions using the Eulerian hydrodynamic code STELLAR; extending the representation theorem code to work with STELLAR; and propagating these calculations to far-field body waves. The calculations show that at low frequencies far-field body waves from multiple explosions are identical to those from a single explosion of the same yield, but at high frequencies the body waves differ. We modify CRAM3D to allow calculations of multiple explosions and run calculations using the same depths and separations used in the STELLAR calculations, but now including the free surface and three-dimensional effects. The results are consistent with the STELLAR calculations, but the CRAM3D calculations also allow us to calculate surface reflected phases, surface waves and full regional seismograms. Long period surface waves show azimuthal variability for multiple explosions in a horizontal configuration. Although we find some differences in higher frequency body waves and in surface waves, the differences are small enough to conclude that yield estimates derived from seismic signals from multiple explosions should in most cases be an accurate estimate of the total yield of the explosions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1064154
Entities
People
- Jeffry L. Stevens
- Michael H P O'Brien
Organizations
- Leidos