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U.S. Department of Energy
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SUMMARY REPORT OF STRONG MOTION MEASUREMENTS, UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR DETONATIONS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4166968

Subsurface and surface motion measurements were made on six underground nuclear detonations in the Oak Springs tuff of Nevada Test Site on Operation Hardtack II: Shots Mars ( approximately 13 tons), Tamulpais ( approximately -72 tons), Neptane ( approximately 90 tons), Logan ( approximately 5 kt), Evans ( approximately 55 tons), and Blanca ( approximately 19 kt). Treefield peak radial acceleration decreased as the inverse third or fourth power of slant range, as for Rainier. Particle velocities attenuated at a rate between the inverse square and inverse cube. Maximum radial and tangential subsurface stress varied as the inverse cube of radial range. Observed peak strain suggested attenuation at a rate between inverse cube and inverse square of range. Maximum upheaval at Blanca surface zero was about 25.5 feet: approximately 2.5 feet at 750 feet radial range; and 1.5 feet at 910 feet. Reed gage spectra indicated a shift of maximum energy to lower frequencies with increasing ground range. All components of surface acceleration followed an empirical equation of the form A(g) = 3 2 x 10/sup 6/ W/sup 0.7/ (kt R/sup -2/(ft). All components of surface displacement did not follow a comparable relationship. Displacement is more precisely predicted than acceleration. The velocity of the tuff was determined to be 5200 ft/sec, with the velocity of the underlying dolomite 11,700 ft/sec. The crust at Nevada Test Site has a velocity of 6.55 km/sec and a thickness of approximately 30 km. The top of the mantle has a velocity of 8.08 km/sec and dips eastward. (auth)

Research Organization:
California. Univ., Livermore. Lawrence Radiation Lab.; Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, Calif.; Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, N. Mex.
NSA Number:
NSA-14-015487
OSTI ID:
4166968
Report Number(s):
ITR-1711
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English