Nonlinear ground motion from a megaton near surface nuclear explosion

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6515928

Rimer, N; Halda, E J; Cherry, J T

This report presents finite difference calculations of the ground motions from a one-megaton near-surface nuclear explosion over a saturated soil. These calculations are unique in that they were carried out to a time of 3.26 sec so that the motions could be computed at ranges at which the soil response was linearly elastic. Having a detailed specification of the explosion-induced ground motion on cylindrical monitoring surfaces in the elastic regime, analytical techniques from elasticity will be applied to continue the ground motion through layered earth models out to ranges of 10 to 500 km. The finite difference calculations were initialized at 0.8 msec using results of the Source 3/5 ground coupling calculation which incorporates a detailed model of the nuclear device mass, materials and dimensions. The ground motions were computed out to 5.0 msec in an Eulerian hydrodynamic code and then transferred to the Lagrangian CRAM stress wave code containing appropriate constitutive models, shear failure, tension failure, etc. A bowl-shaped crater was calculated with a cratering efficiency of 37 cu ft/ton of explosive energy, a factor of 5 or 6 smaller than given by empirical scaling formulae based on Pacific nuclear tests.

• Research Organization: Systems, Science and Software, La Jolla, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6515928
• Report Number(s): AD-A-090019
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
CAVITIES
CRATERS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF STATE
EXPLOSIONS
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
GROUND MOTION
ITERATIVE METHODS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
MOTION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
SATURATION
SHEAR PROPERTIES
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
SOIL MECHANICS
SOILS
TUFF