Ground Motion Environments for Generic Site Conditions

Abstract

The study is a state-of-the-art review for providing methods for predicting air blast and ground shock environments generated by nuclear explosions. Specifically, the report establishes concise ground shock prediction equations which are needed for updating the DNA weapon effects manual EM-1 and for input to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Vulnerability Analysis System (VAS) computer code. The approach taken was to review the data base, both experimental and analytical, and formulate recommendations and/or simplified equations for prediction of environments and their uncertainties with the concurrence of the technical community. The format and content of the recommendations were reviewed by appropriate DNA contractors and government agencies before reaching their current status. The areas covered are: (1) Surface and height-of-burst air blast definition; (2) Ground shock peak motion and stress parameter scaling for both air blast and direct-induced effects for generic site conditions; (3) Ground shock motion and stress waveforms and shock spectra characteristics. The recommended nuclear environment prediction methods encompass weapon yields from 20 kT to 50 MT, overpressures from 10 to 5000 psi, depths to 50 ft below the ground surface, and four generic sites (dry soil, wet soil, soft rock, and hard rock) selected as being representative of most sites of interest.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 31, 1975
Accession Number
ADB015542

Entities

People

  • Donald C. Anderson
  • Norman Lipner
  • Peter K. Dai

Organizations

  • TRW Inc.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter IED
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Blast
  • Data Analysis
  • Databases
  • Dynamic Pressure
  • Engineering
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Field Tests
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Ground Zero
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Wave Propagation
  • Waveforms

Readers

  • Business Analytics
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Geotechnical Engineering.