POPOVER Review Panel report

Abstract

Section 2 POPOVER Review Panel Report The POPOVER Review Panel The purpose of the POPOVER test series was to measure and collect data from experiments designed to verify the integrity of the Big Explosive Experiment Facility (BEEF). The ultimate goal of these tests was to gain absolute confidence in the integrity of BEEF'S structures and equipment and to allow personnel to operate in that facility's Bunker B4-300 during future experiments. To amin this goal, an independent assessment of the POPOVER test series was carried out by assembling a group of mechanical, civil, and instrumentation engineers and experts in explosives safetythe POPOVER Review Panel. The Review Panel members and their areas of expertise were: C. F. (Joe) Baker (civil and blast effects) Bart W. Costerus (instrumentation) Anthony M. Davito, chairman (structural) Paul J. Grace (explosives safety) Chi Yung (John) King (structural and blast effects) Thomas A. Nelson (structural mechanics) John W. Pastrnak (mechanical and blast effects) David W. Prokosch (explosives safety) This report documents the evaluation of BEEF by the POPOVER Review Panel. POPOVER Review Panel Report The site shall be capable of multiple reuse with a low probability of damage to diagnostic equipment and without injury to test personnel when thousands of pounds of conventional HE per experiment are detonated. BEEF Site and Bunker Description BEEF is located in Area 4 at NTS. Two bunkers, B4-300 and B4-480, at the BEEF site were selected for the project because they met the B-Division criteria and because calculations showed that they would withstand pressures and shocks from explosive activities with minimum modifications. Figure 3-1 shows a plan view and cross section of the layout of Bunkers B4-300 and B4-480. After verification, Bunker B4-300 will contain the personnel-occupied control room and laser sources. The BEEF bunkers will be fitted with a portable fire extinguisher system and smoke detectors. Bunker B4-480 will serve as a camera room containing five stations for high-speed fhming cameras and imageconverter cameras with optical ports to the f h g table. A Febetron housing is located 33 ft (10 m) from, and directly in line with, the large test shots. Figure 3-2 shows the configuration of the Febetron housing before an earth berm (located just in front of the housing) was constructed. OSHA Requirement In addition to the above requirements, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an exposure limit to impulsive or impact noise of 140 dB peak C-weighted sound pressure, regardless of the impulse frequency or pulse duration.6 In the case of BEEF, personnel exposures to impulsive noise caused by the explosives detonation will most likely be the controlling factor.

The scrounge-atron: a proton radiography demonstration accelerator

“…The experimental program requires a site capable of open air firing of high explosives, such as BEEF (Big Explosive Experiment Facility) 9 at the Nevada Test Site. Locating the Scrounge-atron firing point at the existing BEEF would realize cost savings in firing table, firing control, bunkers, muster areas, explosives handling, etc.…”