Evaluation of Buried Conduits as Personnel Shelters

Abstract

welve large-diameter bur' d conduit sections of various shapes were tested in th 60-to-149d p s i overpressure region o h b P r i s c i l l a to make an empiricai determination of the degree of personnel protection afford d by commercially available steel and concrete conduits a t depths of burial of 5, 7.5, and 10 feet below grade. Essentially, it was desired to assure that Departmgnt of Defense Class I (100-psi and comparable radiations) and Class I1 (50-psi and comparable radiations) protection is afforded by use of such conduits of various configurations. Measurements were made of free-field overpressure at the ground surface above the structure; pressure inside the structures; acceleration of each structure; deflection of each structure; dust inside each structure; fragmentary missiles inside the concrete structures; and gamma and neutron radiation dose inside each structure. All buried conduit sections tested provided adequate Class I protection (100-psi overpressure and comparable radiation protection) for the conditions under which the conduits were tested. Standard 8-foot concrete sewer pipe withstood 126-psi overpressure without significant damage (minor tension cracks observed) ; standard 10-gage corrugated-steel 8-foot circular conduit sections withstood 126-psi overpressure without significant damage; and standard 10-gage corrugated-steel cattle-pass conduits withstood 149-psi overpressure without significant damage.

Dctdos :

“…The consequence of this is that our main fall off occurs [1][2] feet later than in the experiment. We believe here also that at least pert of the explanation for this effect results from a centerline approach vs an approach by lateral averaging.…”

“…+2 . *CRRNTO ( IC , VELO ( IC , 1 ) =RMTX(1,1) *RVCT ( 1 ) *ESC ( 1 ) *ECCO DO 31 J=2 , 21 VELO ( IC , J ) =RMTX ( J, J) *RVCT ( J ) *ESC ( 1 ) *ECCO VELP ( IC , J) =0 . IP=J-1 DO 30 1=1, IP 30 VELP ( IC , J) =VELP ( IC .…”

Probabilistic Characterization of Nuclear-Blast Loads

“…For comparison purposes, the relevant experimental data are collected from various declassified atmospheric nuclear-test reports, and a summary of all compiled data is given in Table 1. The data belong to (1) Operation Hardtack (Swift et al 1958), (2) Operation Plumbbob (Flathau et al 1959;Albright et al 1960;Bowen et al 1960;Bultmann et al 1960;Deeds et al 1960;Swift et al 1960;Perret 1960;Albright et al 1961;Bryant and Keefer 1962), (3) Operation Redwing (Perret 1956;Kingery et al 1960), (4) Operation…”