Characterization of High-explosive Initiation and Safety at Los Alamos

Characterization of High-explosive Initiation and Safety at Los Alamos PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description

Characterization of High-explosive Initiation and Safety at Los Alamos

Characterization of High-explosive Initiation and Safety at Los Alamos PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description


Site Characterization and Monitoring of Technical Area 49 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory

Site Characterization and Monitoring of Technical Area 49 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory PDF Author: D. G. Levitt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11

Get Book Here

Book Description
In 1959-1961, subcritical hydronuclear safety experiments were conducted at Technical Area (TA) 49 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). These underground experiments were designed and conducted to investigate safety issues. Seventy hydronuclear safety, tracer, and containment test experiments were conducted in 1-m or 2-m diameter shafts at depths ranging between 9 m and 33 m. The subsurface radiological and metals inventory consists of about 40 kg of plutonium, 93 kg of uranium-235, 170 kg of uranium-238, 11 kg of beryllium, and possibly more than 90,000 kg of lead. Explosives used in the experiments consisted largely of TNT, RDX, HMX, and barium nitrate. It is highly likely that the explosives, except for the barium component, were completely consumed by the detonations. Hydronuclear safety test shafts were drilled, test materials were placed at the bottom of the shafts, shafts were backfilled with sand or local crushed tuff, tests were detonated, subsidence in the shafts were backfilled, and cement caps were poured over the test shafts. The diameter of the affected detonation zones is believed to be less than 6 m. Most test shafts were drilled on an 8-m grid spacing in four main areas within TA-49.

Initiation and Detonation of Heterogeneous High Explosives

Initiation and Detonation of Heterogeneous High Explosives PDF Author: Pier K. Tang
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Explosives
Languages : en
Pages : 15

Get Book Here

Book Description


Capabilities for High Explosive Pulsed Power Research at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Capabilities for High Explosive Pulsed Power Research at Los Alamos National Laboratory PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
Research on topics requiring high magnetic fields and high currents have been pursued using high explosive pulsed power (HEPP) techniques since the 1950s at Los Alamos National Laboratory. We have developed many sophisticated HEPr systems through the years, and most of them depend on technology available from the nuclear weapons program. Through the 1980s and 1990s, our budgets would sustain parallel efforts in zpinch research using both HEPr and capacitor banks. In recent years, many changes have occurred that are driven by concerns such as safety, security, and environment, as well as reduced budgets and downsizing of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) complex due to the end of the cold war era. In this paper, we review the teclmiques developed to date, and adaptations that are driven by changes in budgets and our changing complex. One new Ranchero-based solid liner z-pinch experimental design is also presented. Explosives that are cast to shape instead of being machined, and initiation systems that depend on arrays of slapper detonators are important new tools. Some materials that are seen as hazardous to the environment are avoided in designs. The process continues to allow a wide range of research however, and there are few, if any, experiments that we have done in the past that could not be perform today. The HErr firing facility at Los Alamos continues to have a 2000 lb. high explosive limit, and our 2.4 MJ capacitor bank remains a mainstay of the effort. Modem diagnostic and data analysis capabilities allow fewer personnel to achieve better results, and in the broad sense we continue to have a robust capability.

A Working Man's Analysis of Incidents and Accidents with Explosives at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1946--1997

A Working Man's Analysis of Incidents and Accidents with Explosives at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1946--1997 PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 9

Get Book Here

Book Description
At the inception of the Laboratory hectic and intense work was the norm during the development of the atomic bombs. After the war the development of other weapons for the Cold War again contributed to an intense work environment. Formal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were not required at that time. However, the occurrence of six fatalities in 1959 during the development of a new high-energy plastic bonded explosive (94% HMX) forced the introduction SOPs. After an accident at the Department of Energy (DOE) plant at Amarillo, TX in 1977, the DOE promulgated the Department wide DOE Explosives Safety Manual. Table 1 outlines the history of the introduction of SOPs and the DOE Explosives Safety Manual. Many of the rules and guidelines presented in these documents were developed and introduced as the result of an incident or accident. However, many of the current staff are not familiar with the background of the development. To preserve as much of this knowledge as possible, they are collecting documentation on incidents and accidents involving energetic materials at Los Alamos. Formal investigations of serious accidents elucidate the multiple causes that contributed to accidents. These reports are generally buried in a file and, and are not read by more recent workers. Reports involving fatalities at Los Alamos before 1974 were withheld from the general employee. Also, these documents contain much detail and analysis that is not of interest to the field worker. The authors have collected the documents describing 116 incidents and have analyzed the contributing factors as viewed from the standpoint of the individual operator. All the incidents occurred at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and involved energetic materials in some manner, though not all occurred within the explosive handling groups. Most accidents are caused by multiple contributing factors. They have attempted to select the one or two factors that they consider as the most important relative to the individual doing the work. The value of SOPs was an obvious conclusion apriori. The introduction and use of SOPs reduced the probability of serious accidents. The second conclusion was less obvious in that it appears that the SOP did not adequately provide all the controls necessary for 16% of the events. Violations of SOPs, always considered as a potential contributor, was assigned as the major contributor in only 10 incidents.

ANALYSIS OF SHOCK WAVE AND INITIATION DATA FOR SOLID EXPLOSIVES.

ANALYSIS OF SHOCK WAVE AND INITIATION DATA FOR SOLID EXPLOSIVES. PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description


High Explosives Safety Day

High Explosives Safety Day PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description


Los Alamos National Laboratory Continued Operation Site-Wide

Los Alamos National Laboratory Continued Operation Site-Wide PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 942

Get Book Here

Book Description


Los Alamos Science

Los Alamos Science PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 614

Get Book Here

Book Description


Continued Operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory

Continued Operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 800

Get Book Here

Book Description