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Validation of the Mach Stem Triple Point

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1660512· OSTI ID:1660512
 [1]
  1. California Polytechnic State Univ. (CalPoly), San Luis Obispo, CA (United States)
Among the more complex characteristics of an explosion’s shock front is the creation of the Mach stem and its triple point. The scientific footage of the US Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing Program has a film that may show the locus of points formed by the triple point, allowing us to visually investigate the trajectory of these shockwaves. During a nuclear blast, once the X-ray diffusion process ends, an incident shockwave forms in all directions. When the incident shockwave contacts the ground, a reflected shockwave is created. The overall magnitude and impact of these two shockwaves are proportional to the increasing total pressure and temperature, allowing the disturbances to move faster than the local speed of sound.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); California Polytechnic State Univ. (CalPoly), San Luis Obispo, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1660512
Report Number(s):
LLNL-TR--814547; 1023086
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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