Consideration of initial nuclear radiation in an attack on a civilian population. Final report, 28 July 1977-30 November 1979
For megaton-yield weapons, the primary prompt casualty producing effect is blast. Hence, in the past, when the most likely attack on a large city was by large weapons, most studies undertaken failed to include the effects of initial nuclear radiation (INR). However, current attack studies must include the likelihood of smaller-yield weapons, those of the order of tens of kilotons, and therefore, INR must be considered. This study was undertaken to examine the casualties resulting from INR in addition to those caused by blast. The ANDANTE computer model, maintained by the Federal Emergency Management Agency was used in this study. Graphs were developed that demonstrated the protection against initial nuclear radiation, the initial protection factor, that would limit the increase in deaths due to the inclusion of radiation to given percentages over that resulting only from blast as a function of the blast protection of the population. It was confirmed that radiation protection becomes very important for attacks by low-yield weapons. For 5-kt weapons, radiation protection was needed to limit additional deaths to 10% when shelters were such that half of the population or less would be fatally injured when overpressures exceeded 7.5 psi. For 40-kt weapon attacks, radiation protection was needed when shelters protected 50% or more of the population against 11 psi or greater. Radiation protection was needed for 15-psi or stronger shelters for attacks by weapons with 200-kt yields, and for 25 psi or stronger shelters for 1-Mt weapons.
- Research Organization:
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5463332
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-097732/2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ACUTE IRRADIATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLAST EFFECTS
CIVIL DEFENSE
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMERGENCY PLANS
EXPLOSIONS
FALLOUT
FALLOUT SHELTERS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INJURIES
IRRADIATION
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PHYSIOLOGY
POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
SHELTERS
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
THERMAL RADIATION
WEAPONS