Document Details
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Title:
Windsor Report #3 (Add-on Experiments Preliminary to Windsor)
Author(s):
Document Type:
REPORT
Publication Date:
1965 Aug 06
Declassification Date:
1996 Feb 08
Accession Number:
OOL20100092
Document Number(s):
UCRL-ID-124971
Originating Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OpenNet Entry Date:
2019 Aug 20
OpenNet Modified Date:
2026 Aug 21
Description/Abstract:
The purpose of this memorandum is to explain the role of the add-on experiments to Elkhart and Maxwell in the Plowshare Program and to facilitate coordination and programming of the add-on experiments to these and perhaps future events. Plowshare is attempting to develop a system whereby fission debris from the primary nuclear device is entrapped in the ground and at the same time nearly all of the explosive energy is available to break rock or form a crater. With such an explosive system, a minimum of harmful radioactive material will escape to the atmosphere. In order to know how to trap fission debris some understanding of debris transport in the proposed systems of plug and open hole below the device needs to be achieved. In this endeavor it is essential to know how the gas pressure in the open hole below the device and in the main explosion cavity change with time and how the hole below the shot point closes. To date no proven techniques exist for making these measurements. Equipment and techniques to make such measurements are being designed and the add-on on Maxwell and/or Elkhart will be the first test of the equipment. It is anticipated that this add-on will be the beginning of several add-on experiments required to design reliable hardware for making measurements of cavity pressure and possibly other cavity parameters. These experiments are preliminary to the Windsor event rind the results may influence the Windsor design. We are proceeding on Windsor independent of the add-on experiments, however.