The Bomb Test Programs 1946 - 1963 Art work by Grant Powell Between 16 July 1945 and 23 September 1992 the United States of America conducted (by official count) 1054 nuclear tests, and two nuclear attacks. What are the reasons and results?
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The Bomb Test Programs1946 - 1963
Art work by Grant Powell
Between 16 July 1945 and 23 September 1992 the United States of America conducted (by official count) 1054 nuclear tests, and two nuclear attacks. Whatare the reasons and results?
List of US atmospheric Bomb tests
1Pacific Ocean1955Wigwam
14Nevada Test Site1955Teapot
6Bikini AtollEnewetak Atoll
1954Castle
11Nevada Test Site1953Upshot-Knothole
2Enewetak Atoll1952Ivy
7Nevada Test Site1951Tumbler-Snapper
7Nevada Test Site1951Buster-Jangle
4Enewetak Atoll1951Greenhouse
5Nevada Test Site1951Ranger
3Enewetak Atoll1948Sandstone
2Bikini Atoll1946Crossroads
#LocationYearOperation
Pacific Atolls and Nevada desert areas
56Nevada Test SiteNellis Air Force Range
1962-1963
Storax(with Sunbeam and Roller Coaster)
36Christmas IslandJohnston IslandCentral Pacific
1962Dominic(with Fishbowl)
32Nevada Test Site1961-1962
Nougat
37Nevada Test Site1958Hardtack II
3South Atlantic1958Argus
35Bikini AtollEnewetak AtollJohnston Island
1958Hardtack I
2Nevada Test Site1958Project 58 A
2Nevada Test Site1957Project 58
30Nevada Test Site1957Plumbbob
17Bikini AtollEnewetak Atoll
1956Redwing
4Nevada Test Site1955Project 56
316 tests until October 10, 1963; Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Preparation of PopulationTest program needed psychological preparation of populationdown-playing internal impact while up-playing external enemy
familiarizing population and society through media & propaganda
The Commies are coming,the Commies are coming!
The Red Nightmare:Federally funded propaganda film. The tale of an ordinary American town and its life as a Communist satellite, with everyone becoming emotionless automations.
Invasion, USA is the key cold war 'scare' picture. Unlike pacifist weepies such as Arch Oboler's Five, this show depicts a Soviet Union so aggressive, SenatorJoe McCarthy wouldn't recognize it.
The Fear Factor
Comic Book Industry
Presenting violence and horror with “the good guys” beating “the bad guys”
The American Hero at the End of Times
No doubt or criticism was voiced in media, film, and popular literature towards arms race, weapons development and testing!
Duck and Cover
Training to be prepared and to accept the “unavoidable”!
The public warning system
Preparation and Shelter
Public shelter and warning system was installedPurchasing private “atomic bunker” system became big business. Business based on fear and false information.
Balance Due 10 days Prior to Shipping Paymentby check or wire transfer See Conditions Of Sale - Cancellation Fee is 20% of order.
50% Down Payment - check or wire transfer only
Total Order - NH has no sales tax
QuotedProduct On Site Assembly, Installation, Delivery
Included45 AMP Battery Charger
IncludedAir Blower (spare)
IncludedManual Septic Pump/25 feet hose
$ 950.00Solar charging option
IncludedCommunications Package
IncludedFood/Fuel Package
-------------Hatch Dome Class I
$186,400.00CAT 25 Military Shelter
Back in business?
But there were limits …
To realistic movies and or satire was suppressed or forbiddento avoid the generation of criticism and/or panic reactions.
Nukes as business motivatorMarch 1, 1954Hydrogen Bomb test on Bikini Atoll;Louis Réard, thought his daring new swimsuit would have an impact comparable to the impact of the bomb.
Fall-Out Pattern
Crater
Nukes became normal part of everybody’s life
But accidents occurred and criticism grew slowly but surely!
The Nature of the Blast
q Kind and shape of blastsq Blast effects, range & damageq Thermal effectsq Radiation effects
The results of the weapons test programs
Blast—40-60% of total energy Thermal radiation—30-50% of total energy Ionizing radiation—5% of total energy Residual radiation (fallout)—5-10% of total energy
Classifications of blastsq Surface Blast:
fireball in touch with surfacevaporization of surface structures through blastand firestorm, immediate radioactive fallout
q High Altitude Air Blast: fireball > 100,000 ft (>3000m)interrupts satellite based communicationthrough electromagnetic pulse (EMP)
q Low Altitude Air Blast:fireball < 100,000 ft (without touching ground)generates shock waves, pressure differenceartificial for large areal damage, sea battle
q Subsurface Blast:Underwater burstgenerates surge
Surface Blast – the fireball
Central temperature: ~10,000,000 KImmediate vaporization of material!Central pressure: ~33000 atm
q Radiation release & absorption in surrounding matter generates red-glow intense luminosity.
q Expansion of fireball through internal pressureq Fireball rises like hot air balloon
StokesAugust 1957
1500 Foot Balloon19 kt
Fireball expansion
psiatmTT
pp
KTatmpKT
constVTVp
000,50033000300
000,000,10
101,1,300
;
1
2
1
2
7211
=≈≈≈
⋅≈≈≈
≈∝⋅
sftskmv
skmcc
v ss
/168000/56125.1
72
25.1;/71
2
≈=−
⋅=
≈≈−⋅
= γγ
Pressure evolution within the fireball:
Initial expansion speed vcs is the speed of sound in the vaporized gasγ is the specific heat ratio of the gas
Five times earth gravitation escape velocityte
mpe
ratu
re pressure
The shock front developmentAfter ~10 second the fireball expands with constant rate of ~300 ft/s
After ~ 1minute fireball has cooled and radiation emission ceases!
18 ms
16 ms
6ms
90 ms
109 ms
15.0 s
General Features – the mushroom the emergence of the mushroom shape
q Absorption of cool airtriggers fast toroidal circulation of hot gases and causes upwardmotion forming the stem and mushroom.
q Condensation of water changes red brownish color ofcloud towards white!
q Strong upward windDrags dirt and debrisInto the cloud mixingwith radioactive material
q Cloud rises in heightwith ~ 440 ft/s
Evolution of Mushroom cloud
Dirt
Cloud AltitudeMaximum altitude for cloudrise is reached after ~ 4min.
RATE OF RISE OF THERADIOACTIVE CLOUD FROM a I-MEGATON AIRBURSTHeight Time Rate of Rise(miles) (min) (mph)
2.0 0.3 3303.0 40.7 2704.0 61.1 2205.0 102.5 1406.0 123.8 27
Cloud height & cloud radiusdepend on the magnitude ofthe explosion, increase ofboth radius & height scaleswith explosion yield.
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