Operation UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE, Nevada Proving Grounds, March-June 1953. Project 3.5 Tests on the Response of Wall and Roof Panels and the Transmission of Load to Supporting Structure
Abstract
This report deals with the pre- and post-test work on the Air Force Structures Test, Project 3.5 of Operation UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE, Tests on the Response of Wall and Roof Panels. Ten wall and seven roof panels, representing typical construction practice (e.g., masonry, reinforced concrete, metal, and wood siding, etc.) were positioned in three overpressure regions in Shot 9. Instrumentation consisted of pressure gages, motion picture cameras, and a strain gage system which measured the blast forces transmitted by the panels to the supporting structure. All but two of the wall panels were destroyed (the three brick walls showed a definite gradiation of damage from light through severe) and all of the roof panels were at least partially destroyed. The test results indicate that, when a wall panel remains intact, the predicted applied load represents reasonably well the average load transmitted by the panel to the supporting frame. With the exception of the reinforced concrete panel, the walls that failed transmitted only a small percentage of the applied loading; initial structural failure occurred during the first 20 ms or so, and complete failure in 50 to 100 ms. Peak pressure damage criteria appear to be justified for most of the roof and wall panels tested and , where possible, critical pressures above which failure of the panel is reasonably assured have been deduced.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1955
- Accession Number
- ADA073475
Entities
People
- Eugene Sevin
Organizations
- Wright Laboratory