Approximate analytical model of shock waves from underground nuclear explosions. Scientific report

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7270719

Lamb, F K; Callen, B W; Sullivan, J D

We discuss an approximate analytical model for the hydrodynamic evolution of the shock front produced by an explosion in a homogeneous medium. The model assumes particular relation between the energy of the explosion, the density of the medium into which the shock wave is expanding, and the particle speed immediately behind the shock front. The assumed relation is exact at early times, when the shock wave is strong and self-similar. Comparison with numerical simulations shows that the relation remains approximately valid even at later times, when the shock wave is neither strong nor self-similar. The model allows one to investigate how the evolution of the shock wave is influenced by the properties of the ambient medium. The shock front radius vs. time curves predicted by the model agree well with numerical simulations of explosions in quartz and wet tuff and with data from four underground nuclear tests conducted in granite, basalt, and wet tuff when the official yields are assumed. Fits of the model to data from the hydrodynamic phase of these tests give yields that are within 8% of the official yields.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics
• OSTI ID: 7270719
• Report Number(s): AD-A-250355/5/XAB; SCIENTIFIC--1; CNN: F19628-88-K-0040
• 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
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BASALT
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITY
DETECTION
ENERGY
EVALUATION
EXPLOSIONS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERALS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DETECTION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OXIDE MINERALS
PARTICLES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUARTZ
ROCKS
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
TREATIES
TUFF
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
YIELDS