Summary of USSR reports on mechanical and radioactivity effects of underground nuclear explosions

Conference · Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:4133894

Kruger, Paul

Two reports have been issued by the USSR which examine the mechanical effects and radioactive contamination of the environment from underground nuclear explosions. In reviewing the mechanical effects, the institute of Terrestrial Physics of the USSR Academy of Sciences emphasizes the advantages of nuclear explosives, namely the tremendous power and small dimensions, in the industrial and construction fields. The authors note that the mechanical effects are based not only upon the explosive yield but also upon the thermodynamic properties of the cavity gases during expansion. These properties may vary widely depending upon the rock material. A list of the basic parameters affecting the mechanical effects of contained nuclear explosions includes: cavity volume, dimensions of the chimney, degree of rock fracturing, intensity of the compression wave as a function of distance from shot point, and seismic effects. The second paper describes the phenomenology of radioactive contamination of the environment for both contained and excavation explosions.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• NSA Number: NSA-24-041492
• OSTI ID: 4133894
• Report Number(s): CONF-700101-(Vol.1)
• Resource Relation: Conference: Symposium on engineering with nuclear explosives, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 14-16 Jan 1970; Other Information: From Symposium on engineering with nuclear explosives, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 14--16, 1970. Proceedings. UNCL. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-70; Related Information: In: Symposium on engineering with nuclear explosives. Proceedings. Vol. 1, 871 pages
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

N24120* -Engineering-Nuclear Explosions-Industrial Uses
N28410 -Life Sciences-Health Physics & Safety- Radioactive Contamination & Decontamination
CAVITIES
CONFIGURATION
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENT
EUROPE
EXCAVATION
EXPLOSIVES
FALLOUT
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OPENINGS
RADIOACTIVITY
ROCKS
SEISMOLOGY
SHOCK WAVES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USSR
ENVIRONMENT/radioactive contamination of
from underground nuclear explosions
summary of USSR reports on
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
UNDERGROUND/effects on mechanical properties and contamination of geologic media
summary of USSR reports on
SEISMIC WAVES/propagation from underground nuclear explosions
summary of USSR reports on
CAVITIES/formation by underground nuclear explosions
summary of USSR reports on