Internal Blast Measurements in a Model of the Pantex Damaged Weapons Facility
Abstract
The Damaged Weapons Facility (DWF), planned for construction at the Pantex Plant, will consist of several rooms and interconnecting corridors. It is being designed to essentially completely contain explosive effects in the event of an accidental explosion during weapon disassembly. Because of the complex geometry of the facility, the rational prediction of initial and later reflected shock wave loading, and the longer-term gas pressure loading, is very difficult. Accordingly, a one-eighth scale, overstrength, steel 'loads' model of the facility has been built and tested. Tests include detonations within the model of various weights and types of spherical and cylindrical explosives, at several charge locations within the high bay area of the facility. This paper summarizes shock and gas pressure measurements taken within the model, and compares test results to current methods for estimating these transient pressures and to data from other investigators.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADP000439
Entities
People
- E. D. Esparza
- J. C. Hokanson
- N. R. Sandoval
- Wilfred E. Baker
Organizations
- Southwest Research Institute