A Concept Review of an Underground High Explosive Test Program Supporting Comprehensive Test Ban Monitoring Research.
Abstract
The detection and identification of underground nuclear tests, during a Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB), places new, and stringent, requirements on monitoring systems. In particular, because of the factor of about 70 reduction in apparent yield that can be achieved by cavity decoupling, seismic monitoring must extend to short period magnitudes in the range of 2.5 to 3.5. The apparent absence of mechanical effects data from suitable underground explosions in this magnitude range makes planning for CTB monitoring difficult. In this paper, we find that tamped high explosive charges, in the 40 to 320 ton yield range, may serve as surrogate sources for obtaining this mechanical data. Therefore, we recommend a high explosive test program to obtain mechanical data that would support research aimed at providing the capability to monitor a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA093410
Entities
People
- Gilbert W. Ullrich
Organizations
- Air Force Technical Applications Center