Signatures of Aging

Abstract

The Department of Energy and its three weapons laboratories (LANL, LLNL, and SNL) have developed a Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program (SSMP) in response to their designated mission of maintaining an effective, i.e. reliable and safe, nuclear deterrent without underground nuclear tests (UGTs). The need to ensure the effectiveness of an aging stockpile presents new challenges of major importance. In this study we review what is known about the aging of critical constituents, particularly the high explosives, polymers, and metals in the enduring stockpile. We discuss data that are required to provide a fuller understanding of aging, and how to obtain that data as a basis for anticipating and addressing potential stockpile problems. Our particular concern is problems that may arise in the short term, i.e. within the next 5 to 10 years, and their implied requirements for preventive maintenance and remanufacture.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 06, 1998
Accession Number
ADA336842

Entities

People

  • F. Dyson
  • J. Cornwall
  • R. Garwin
  • R. Jeanloz
  • S. Drell

Organizations

  • MITRE Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Analysis
  • Detectors
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosives
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • High Explosives
  • Magnetometers
  • Manufacturing
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Military Research
  • Phase Transformations
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Seismology
  • Strategic Security Studies