Shallow Underground Tunnel/Chamber Explosion Test
Abstract
A considerable amount of research has been performed in the last two decades to develop a technical data base and methods to predict the airblast and ejecta/debris hazards from accidental explosions in underground magazines. Much of the work was concerned with detonations in magazines so deep that venting of the detonation through the magazine cover rock does not occur. The effect of cover venting on the reduction of external airblast from the entrance portal has been demonstrated in small-scale tests performed in the United Kingdom (Millington, 1985). The Shallow Underground Tunnel/Chamber Test Program was designed to provide large-scale airblast and ejecta/debris effects from a detonation of 20,000-kg (net explosive weight) in a shallow underground magazine. The test program was primarily funded on an equal share basis by three organizations: the U.S. Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board; the Safety Services Organization of the Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom; and the Norwegian Defence Construction Service. Additional funds were provided by the Pyrotechnie Saint Nicolas, France; the Royal Swedish Fortifications Administration, Sweden; and the Amt fur Bundesbauten, Switzerland, to expand the scope of blast instrumentation and debris measurements. This paper summarizes the hazard analysis (Joachim, 1990) based on the technical data acquired during the test.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA521032
Entities
People
- Charles E. Joachim