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Construction of a Sea-Level, Transisthmian Canal Using Nuclear Explosives

Description: Partial abstract: "This report is based: (1) on information developed in earlier high explosive experiments which determined the optimum spacing and burial depth of charges in a row to produce a channel uniformly wide and deep, and (2) on the Sedan and Danny Boy experiments, which provided data on dimensions of nuclear craters in both soil and basalt rock. This information has been combined with the 1947 route surveys of the Panama Canal company, and estimates have been made not only of the num… more
Date: February 1964
Creator: Vortman, Luke J.
open access

Craters From Four Equal Charges in a Horizontal Square Array

Description: Craters were observed resulting from square arrays of 64-pound charges at various spacings and depths. The closest spacings yielded craters very like those from single 256-pound charges, while wider spacings yielded craters more or less square in shape and with a mound or pier at the center. Generally, the areas so uncovered were greater than for single 256-pound charges, except for very deep charges. Volumes, too, were enhanced by this configuration by as much as a factor of three. If the same… more
Date: March 1965
Creator: Vortman, Luke J.
open access

Ejecta from Single-Charge Cratering Explosions: Volume 1

Description: "Eight high-explosive charges weighing 8 to 1000 pounds were detonated in playa. Each event included 24 to 40 locations of tracer material in the expected crater region. The objective was to obtain data relating the origin of crater ejecta to its depositional location. Resulting data are presented for craters, ejecta areal densities, crater and ejecta mass quantities, tracer dispersion, and an empirical prediction model."
Date: June 1970
Creator: Carlson, Roland H. & Newell, Robert T.
open access

Estimating Safety Probabilities from Fallout Forecasts for Nevada Test Site

Description: Abstract: "Available data on wind persistence and wind forecasting capability have been applied in estimating the probability of a fallout pattern shifting from an uninhabited safe sector into a populated region. Safety probability is computed from win variability, forecasting accuracy, initial height and particle size of radioactivity landing at a point in the predicted fallout pattern, predicted wind speed, length of forecast period, and safe-sector angular width."
Date: July 1, 1960
Creator: Reed, Jack W.
open access

Experimental Pressure Distributions and Force Coefficients on Block Forms for Varying Mach Number, Reynolds Number, and Yaw Angle

Description: Abstact: "Wind tunnel tests were performed to determine pressure distributions and normal force coefficients on three block forms on mounting planes. The dimension ratios of the blocks were 1:1:1, 1:1:2, and 1:1:4. Results are given for variation in Mach number from 0.066 to 0.8, in Reynolds number from 0.28 x 10(exp 6) to 4 x 10(exp 6), and in yaw angle from 0 to 90 degrees. Results show a Reynolds number independence over the range examined. Windward face force coefficients for a given block … more
Date: January 1959
Creator: Hankins, Dorris M.
open access

An Exploding Wire as a Fuse for the LASL Capacitor Bank--Zeus

Description: Abstract: "An exploding copper wire, one millimeter in diameter, 30 centimeters long, has been developed as a fuse component for a Los Alamos capacitor energy source to be employed in controlled thermonuclear research studies. The fuse allows the passage of the high normal duty "action" (13,700 ampere-coulombs per capacitor) at a 20-second repetition rate. However, it interrupts the circuit to a shorted capacitor in 12 microseconds, thereby protecting the faulted capacitor from explosive energy… more
Date: June 4, 1959
Creator: Cnare, Eugene C.
open access

High Explosive Crater Studies: Desert Alluvium

Description: From abstract: Crater dimensions have been determined for 23 explosions of 256-pound spherical TNT charges buried in desert alluvium. As opposed to previous work covering depths of burst as great as 6 feet, the work presented in this report extends knowledge of apparent crater radius and depth to depths of burst as great as 30 feet.
Date: May 1961
Creator: Murphey, Byron F.
open access

High Explosive Crater Studies: Tuff

Description: Abstract: "Spherical charges of TNT, each weighing 256 pounds, were exploded at various depths in tuff to determine apparent crater dimensions in a soft rock. No craters were obtained for depths of burst equal to or greater than 13.3 feet. It was deduced that rock fragments were sufficiently large that charges of greater magnitude should be employed for crater experiments intended as models of nuclear explosions."
Date: April 1961
Creator: Murphey, Byron F.
open access

High-Explosive Ditching from Linear Charges

Description: Abstract: "Weights of linear high-explosive charges fired on the Yucca Lake playa of the Nevada Test Site varied from 0.23 to 42.7 pounds per foot. Crater and ditch dimensions and volumes resulting from these shots, fired during the fall of 1959 and spring of 1960, are presented here as a function of charge burst depths. Scaling relationships determined are as expected; i.e., square-root scaling of linear-charge weight per foot for ditch width and depth and a direct linear-charge weight relatio… more
Date: July 1961
Creator: Carlson, R. H.
open access

Irreducible Representations of Line Groups: the Dynamics of Polymer Chains

Description: Abstract: "The symmetries of infinite polymer chain molecules are discussed using the concept of line groups. Explicit directions are given for obtaining the irreducible representations of line groups employing the formalism developed for three-dimensional space groups. Line groups containing primitive and nonprimitive operations are discussed. Detailed considerations of the line group Vh are given with specific applications to the polyethylene molecule. Directions for generating symmetry-adapt… more
Date: December 1961
Creator: Lawson, Katheryn Emanuel & Crosby, G. A.
open access

A Method of Calculating Boundary-Layer Thickness in Axisymmetric Nozzles with Laminar Hypersonic Flow

Description: Abstract: "The excellent agreement between measured boundary layer thickness and thickness calculated by Sivells and Payne recommends their method for calculating turbulent boundary layer growth in axisymmetric hypersonic nozzles. It was thought worthwhile to adapt their approach to the laminar boundary layer. This analysis, along with a limited amount of corroborating data, is presented herein."
Date: October 1959
Creator: Johnson, Arlo F.
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