Surface detonation

Although this will lead to substantial destruction of the UXO, the area should be double-checked for shells that survive. (One of the known problems when magazines spontaneously detonate is finding the shells that survive.) The author believes in sandbagging the detonation site to help confine projectiles and to make a search for errant surviving shells easier. Finally, loose explosive balls may also survive, contaminating the soil and eventually the groundwater. Of course, the contamination will also occur if the munitions are left onsite. It is a lose-lose situation from the pollution perspective. 

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Tower Burst. If the energy of the detonation is sufficient to vaporize the entire tower mass, the particle population is like that described for the land surface burst. If, however, the entire tower is not vaporized, the particle population will consist of three identifiable components— the crystalline and glass components of the surface detonation plus a metal sphere population which arises from melted (not vaporized) tower materials resolidifying as spheres. Such spheres are metallic rather than metal oxide and exhibit the density and magnetic properties of the tower material. The size range of the spherical component is from a few microns to perhaps a few hundred microns diameter. If we indicate by... 

Water Surface Burst. When the entire platform of a water surface detonation is vaporized, the primary particle population is exactly like that described under airburst. However, the particles of the primary population act as condensation nucleii for the late-time condensation of sea salts. The salt particles are hygroscopic and eventually dissolve and leave the primary population behind. However, particle transport is affected by the sea salt particle growth which temporarily, at least, produces larger particles than does an airburst. 

In this section, the process of characterization of the particle population from a megaton level, Coral Island surface detonation is described. [While the general features of the particle population are illustrated by this example, it should be kept in mind that particular details of behavior could be altered significantly for a similar detonation conducted in a different soil environment.]... 

Table I. Normalized Atom Ratios (Land Surface Detonation)...

Figure 1. Land surface detonation. Linear relationship of normalized inter-...

Figure 2. Land surface detonation. Refractory specific activity vs. particle diameter.

Figure 3. Land surface detonation. Particle size distribution (mass).

Referring to Column 6, Table II, Dmill for the glass population is 3.1 /a, and Dmax- for the crystalline population is 18.5/a. The method for calculating the parameters of the distribution functions for Case II is completely analogous to that used in Case I and will not be given in detail. In Table III the parameters of the distribution functions for the two cases are given. The data of Table III together with the values of aA listed in Table I constitute a complete characterization of the particle for a land surface detonation. 

Airburst detonations produce particles in the smaller size ranges so that the earliest air filter samples are generally completely representative of the entire population. However, the analysis of submicron size particles is more difficult than the analysis of the larger particles found in surface detonation samples. The LRL Particle Analysis Program is currently engaged in analyzing airburst particle populations. However, data are incomplete, and to illustrate the characterization problem for... 

Crater Dimensions in Soil from High-Explosive Surface Detonations Norwegian Defence Construction Service... 

II-9. The resultant simplified shock loadings for a TNT equivalent ground surface detonation are shown in Figs II-2-II-4. 

D. Price, J. E. Wehner, and G. E. Robertson, Transition from Slow Burning to Detonation Kole of Confinement, Pressure Eoading and Shock Sensitivity, TR68-138, Naval Surface Weapons Center (NSWC), White Oaks, Md., 1968. 

The rolling operations that foUow take place first on hot (95°C) differential-speed roUs which dry and coUoid the paste and convert it iato sheet form, and then on even-speed roUs which produce smoothly surfaced propellant sheets ia which all iagredients have been uniformly iacorporated. The roU gap ia the differeatial roUs is adjustable to produce sheets of various thicknesses, and rolling is continued until the moisture is reduced to a predetermined level, usually less than 0.5%. The sheet is then cut off the roU. Differential rolling is potentially hazardous, and fires are not uncommon, although detonations are not apt to occur. Operations are conducted by remote control. 

Flame plating (D-gun) employs oxygen and fuel gas. In this method, developed by the Union Carbide Corporation, the gas mixture is detonated by an electric spark at four detonations per second. The powders, mixed with the gas, are fed under control into a chamber from which they are ejected when detonation occurs. The molten, 14—16-pm particles are sprayed at a velocity of 732 m/s at distances of 5.1—10.2 cm from the surface. The substrate is moved past the stationary gun. 

Kamlet, M.J. and Adolph, H.G., Some Comments Regarding the Sensitivities, Thermal Stabilities, and Explosive Performance Characteristics of Fluorodi-nitromethyl Compounds, in Seventh Symposium (International) on Detonation, NSWC MP 82-334 (edited by Short, J.M.), Naval Surface Weapons Center, White Oak, Silver Spring, MD, 1982, pp. 84-92. 

The sample eapsule is plaeed in a tight-fitting 4340 steel fixture that serves to support the eopper eapsule. Pressure from the detonation of the explosive is transmitted to the eopper eapsule through a mild steel driver plate. This plate is also lapped optically flat on both surfaces. The mild steel acts to shape the pressure pulse due to the 13 GPa structural phase transition. With proper choice of the diameter of the driver plate and beveled interior opening of the steel fixture, shock deformation of the driver plate acts to seal the capsule within the fixture. 

B. A. Khasainov, A.A. Borisov, B.S. Ermolaev, and A.I. Korotkov, in Proceedings, Seventh Symposium (International) on Detonation, edited by J. Short, Naval Surface Weapons Center Report No. NSWC MP82-334, 1981, pp. 435-447. 

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