Blast biology: a study of the primary and tertiary effects of blast in open underground protective shelters. Project 33. 1 of Operation Plumbbob
Dogs, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice were exposed to nuclear detonations in two open underground partitioned shelters. The shelters were of similar construction, and each was exposed to separate detonations. Each inner chamber filled through its own orifice; thus four separate pressure environments were obtained. An aerodynamic mound was placed over the escape hatch of each structure to determine its effect on the pressure-curve shape inside the chamber. In one test a sieve plate bolted across the top of the mound was evaluated. Wind protective baffles of solid plate and of heavy wire screen were installed in the shelters to compare primary and tertiary blast effects on dogs. The shelters also contained static and dynamic pressure gages, radiation detectors, telemetering devices, and, in one test, air-temperature measuring instruments, dust-collecting trays, and eight pigs for the biological assessment of thermal effects. One dog was severely injured from tertiary blast effects associated with a maximal dynamic pressure (Q) of 10.5 psi, and one was undamaged with a maximal Q of 2 psi. Primary blast effects resulting from peak overpressures of 30.3, 25.5, 9.5, and 4.1 psi were minimal. The mortality was 19% of the mice exposed to a peak pressure of 30.3 psi and 5 and 3% of the guinea pigs and mice exposed to a peak pressure of 25.5 psi. Many of the rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice sustained slight lung hemorrhages at maximum pressues of 25.5 and 30.3 psi. Eardrum perforation data for all species, except mice, were recorded. Following shot 2, thermal effects were noted. Animals of the groups saved for observation have died from ionizing-radiation effects.
- Research Organization:
- Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6683836
- Report Number(s):
- WT-1467
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
DOGS
BLAST EFFECTS
GUINEA PIGS
MICE
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
RABBITS
SWINE
AUDITORY ORGANS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DUST COLLECTORS
EVALUATION
FALLOUT SHELTERS
HEMORRHAGE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUNGS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MORTALITY
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PRESSURE GAGES
RADIATION DETECTORS
SUBSURFACE STRUCTURES
TELEMETRY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
ANIMALS
BODY
COMMUNICATIONS
DATA TRANSMISSION
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
EXPLOSIONS
MAMMALS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
SHELTERS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
560205* - Thermal Effects- Vertebrates- (-1987)
560152 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
450200 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives