MIDDLE NORTH Series. DIAL PACK and PRAIRIE FLAT Events. Blast Valve Tests
Abstract
A modified section of an underground communication building was constructed at the Defence Research Establishment, Suffield, and experiments were conducted to determine blast-valve performance, overpressures in the air shaft and down-stream plenums, and overpressure damage to air ducts. The air ducts were installed in order to give an indication of the expected damage to air-conditioning equipment which would be caused by overpressure pulses. The experiments were conducted in the PRAIRIE FLAT and DIAL PACK Events. Both experiments employed 500 tons of TNT to produce the blast effects. In the PRAIRIE FLAT Event, the test structure was engulfed by a peak free-field blast overpressure of 34 psi. Two louver blast valves were mounted in the structure. One was closed directly by the blast forces and suffered no damage. That was not the case for the air ducts located in the downstream plenum. The other blast valve was properly controlled to close before blast arrival. In the DIAL PACK Event, the test structure was engulfed by a 12-psi blast overpressure. A louver blast valve and a lighter weight blast shutter were both blast closed. Air ducts behind the louver valve were only slightly indented, and those behind the blast shutter were undamaged.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 08, 1972
- Accession Number
- ADA395893
Entities
People
- Eugene F. Witt
- George Nevrincean