Experimental Studies of Soil Thermal Irradiation. Volume I. Soil Blow-Off Data Analysis.
Abstract
The total report describes three experimental activities in thermal layer experimental development. Volume I is based on a series of over 300 irradiation tests of basic soil types performed under previous contracts. Thorough cross comparison of over twenty soil types revealed that these could be apportioned into several key categories of soil response behavior. It provides an empirical understanding of the phenomenon of thermal blow-off. Due to the coupling of blown off dust to non-ideal blast wave effects and cloud loading in nuclear burst situations it is imperative that the soil thermal response be quantified. Science Applications, Inc. conducted an experimental program of soil blow-off analysis using a nearly exact thermal pulse simulation from a series of solar furnaces. The largest of these, a 25 KW furnace, was used for over 300 hours of testing over the past two-year period. Findings indicate that blow off is of four distinct types: Smoke is nearly always produced above a threshold of 7 cal/sq cm sec flux and 4 to 6 cal/sq cm fluence; Small particulate ejection is seen in soils containing clay; Large particles or flakes are yielded from materials that contain significant clay; and Steam is emitted from all moist soils.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA058302
Entities
People
- T. M. Knasel