Simulation analysis of low-frequency ground motions observed from selected atmospheric nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Site. Technical report, 7 March 1983-31 January 1984

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5391702

Murphy, J R; Dermengian, J M; Shah, H K

This report describes the results of a continuing investigation of the characteristics of the low-frequency ground motions produced by atmospheric explosions. The studies reported here focused on two aspects of this problem: (1) full-scale validation of nuclear tests, and (2) preliminary evaluation of a theoretically-based prediction methodology. With regard to the validation study, the mathematical model has been applied to the theoretical simulation of ground motion data recorded from the Nevada Test Site atmospheric nuclear explosions TUMBLER I, UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE 10, and SMALL BOY. Results of these simulations have confirmed the fact that the observed low frequency ground motions from such explosions can be accounted for by the airblast-induced, elastic surface waves. Moreover, the simulation analysis of the ground-motion data recorded from the near-surface SMALL BOY explosion confirmed the existence of an exclusion radius for such events, within which incident airblast energy is not efficiently coupled into the surface-wave mode of propagation due to dissipation associated with strong, nonlinear interaction effects. On the other hand, the evidence provided by the TUMBLER I and UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE 10 analyses indicated that this exclusion radius is effectively zero for explosions with significant height of burst.

• Research Organization: S-Cubed, San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5391702
• Report Number(s): AD-A-168718/5/XAB; SSS-R-84-6585
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ATMOSPHERIC EXPLOSIONS
GROUND MOTION
SIMULATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
INTERACTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RAYLEIGH WAVES
SEISMIC DETECTION
SEISMIC WAVES
TEST FACILITIES
VALIDATION
DETECTION
EXPLOSIONS
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
MOTION
SEISMIC SURFACE WAVES
TESTING
TRANSFORMATIONS
450202* - Explosions & Explosives- Nuclear- Weaponry- (-1989)