Predicted scaling of radiological effects. Project 2. 0 (of) Operation JANGLE

Technical Report · Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1952

OSTI ID:6641642

Schorr, M G; Gilfillan, E S

The radiologicl contamination which may result from fission bombs detonated near the surface of the earth and underground is predicted. The radiation received is primarily a result of the initial radiation from the early fission products and fall-out of radioactive material from the high cloud. The distribution of the fall-out is determined by constructing a mathematical model and adjusting the parameters of the model to fit actual JANGLE data. The model is then scaled up to larger weapons by scaling these parameters in conformity with existing formulations of explosion cloud dynamics. The initial radiation is calculated in a straightforward manner. The resulting dose and dose-rate contours are given, as are the areas enclosed by given contours. It is concluded that the base surge at the JANGLE underground explosion did not contain an appreciable amount of radioactive material. The cratering action of explosives is discussed, and it is found that atomic bombs exploded near the earth surface should give crater radii which scale as the one-sixth power of the energy release rather than the one-third power scaling applicable to high explosives.

• Research Organization: Technical Operations, Inc., Arlington, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6641642
• Report Number(s): WT-391(Del.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FALLOUT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
JANGLE PROJECT
SCALE MODELS
DOSE RATES
FISSION PRODUCTS
ISODOSE CURVES
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EXPLOSIONS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
STRUCTURAL MODELS
450200* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
500300 - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)