Project Sedan, Nevada Test Site, July 6, 1962. Sedan Long Range Blast Propagation

Abstract

Microbarograph records of air-blast waves from the Sedan shot were made at eight stations in California and Nevada at ranges from 100 to 230 miles. A 1.2-ton high-explosive calibration shot was fired at Sedan minus 2 minutes to establish propagation conditions for bursts in air. Comparison of recorded signals indicated that Sedan blast-wave amplitudes averaged 20 percent of amplitudes which would have been transmitted had the Sedan yield been free-air burst. Individual transmissivity values ranged from 5 to 35 percent. Variations around the average are probably caused by atmospheric turbulence. Sedan blast waves were ducted toward the west by atmospheric refraction in the ozonosphere where strong summer easterlies were blowing at lOO,O0O- to 200,OOO-foot altitudes. Rocket wind measurements were made at Tonopah Test Range. Rocket and rawinsonde data were used to calculate atmospheric blast propagations which are in fair agreement with microbarograph measurements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 30, 1963
Accession Number
ADA438188

Entities

People

  • Hugh W. Church
  • Jack W. Reed

Organizations

  • United States Atomic Energy Commission

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Amplitude
  • Atmospheric Motion
  • Blast
  • Blast Waves
  • Calibration
  • California
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Height Of Burst
  • High Explosives
  • Instrumentation
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Mechanics
  • Pressure Measurement
  • United States

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Seismology