High explosive testing of a corrugated metal blast shelter with membrane blast doors

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6241228· OSTI ID:6241228

Zimmerman, G. P.; Chester, C. V.

In October 1983 the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) sponsored a high-explosive blast test, nicknamed DIRECT COURSE. This event simulated the blast effects from a one-kiloton nuclear detonation and provided an environment for the testing of selected blast and fallout shelters for their structural integrity. Under work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) fielded a set of experiments at the DIRECT COURSE event which were directed toward reducing the cost of blast shelter for small groups of people, such as workers in critical industries (keyworkers). Six items were tested: three scale models of a corrugated metal blast shelter and three full-size blast door closures for such a shelter. The three shelters survived blast overpressures up to 2.55 MPa (225 psi), a level which is equivalent to being approximately 800 m (0.5 mile) from a 1 megaton nuclear detonation. Each shelter model was 180 cm (6 ft.) long by 60 cm (2 ft.) in diameter, was buried about 60 cm (2 ft.) below ground level, and represented a 1/4-scale version of a full-size blast shelter which would be capable of supporting 12 to 18 occupants. The three full-size, 90 cm (35 in.) diameter, blast doors for such a shelter also successfully resisted the same range of blast overpressure. Each door weighed less than 45 kg (100 lb) and incorporated a novel, yielding-membrane design. These sheet metal membranes were between 1.3 and 2.0 mm (0.050 and 0.080 in.) thick and were supported by an edge beam (hoop).

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6241228
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-9289; ON: DE85004109
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
FALLOUT SHELTERS
BLAST EFFECTS
DOORS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
GRAPHS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
ORNL
TABLES
TEST FACILITIES
TESTING
COMMINUTION
EXPLOSIVES
FRACTURING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPENINGS
SHELTERS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
450100* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
450202 - Explosions & Explosives- Nuclear- Weaponry- (-1989)