Results of the Misers Bluff II Aircraft Dust Particle Sampling Experiments.
Abstract
Dust clouds generated from two high explosive detonations of 100 and 600 tons (TNT equivalent) in the Misers Bluff II Experiment were sampled with an instrumented aircraft to determine the size and number density of particulates from 0.1 to 10,000 micrometers. The primary sizing techniques utilized 'in situ' optical methodology. High resolution dust concentration measurements were performed from approximately T + 3 to T + 60 minutes during both experiments. The total mass lofted integrated from these samples was found to be 0.80 x 10 (to the 9th power) gm for the experiment pair. Typical mass loadings were a few tenths of a gram per cubic meter. Visibilities to less than 100 meters were encountered with single pass optical depths 10-45 in the well developed cloud regions. The largest dust particles observed were only about 2 mm diameter. Organic particles up to 10 mm long are widely dispersed with the dust particles. Mean mass sizes of 90-160 micrometers are typical. Turbulence was light at even the earliest passes. Aircraft damage was restricted to injected dirt creating small but measurable engine wear.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 30, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA083346
Entities
People
- Robert G. Knollenberg