Inelastic processes in seismic wave generation by underground explosions
Theories, computer calculations, and measurements of spherical stress waves from explosions are described and compared, with emphasis on the transition from inelastic to almost-elastic relations between stress and strain. Two aspects of nonspherical explosion geometry are considered: tectonic strain release and surface spall. Tectonic strain release affects the generation of surface waves; spall closure may also. The reduced-displacement potential is a common solution (the equivalent elastic source) of the forward and inverse problems, assuming a spherical source. Measured reduced-displacement potentials are compared with potentials calculated as solutions of the direct and inverse problems; there are significant differences between the results of the two types of calculations and between calculations and measurements. The simple spherical model of an explosion is not sufficient to account for observations of explosions over wide ranges of depth and yield. The explosion environment can have a large effect on explosion detection and yield estimation. The best sets of seismic observations for use in developing discrimination techniques are for high-magnitude high-yield explosions; the identification problem is most difficult for low-magnitude low-yield explosions. Most of the presently available explosion data (time, medium, depth, yield, etc.) are for explosions in a few media at the Nevada Test Site; some key questions concerning magnitude vs yield and m/sub b/ vs M/sub s/ relations can be answered only by data for explosions in other media at other locations.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5209289
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-84515
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosion Detection
58 GEOSCIENCES
580300* -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DATA
DEFORMATION
DETECTION
EXPLOSIONS
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DETECTION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
ROCKS
SEISMIC DETECTION
SEISMIC EVENTS
SEISMIC WAVES
SIMULATION
STRAINS
STRESSES
THEORETICAL DATA
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS