Explosive Stress: Shock, Blast, and Venting

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

4.0

Solids; Nonmetallic or Composite Solids

(Figure 1, Taleyarkhan January-March 1992 for U-Al alloy, 62% burnup). Initial release of

noble gases was associated with blistering of the fuel at ~ 600 oC. For the other elements

listed, the measured releases are:

2-min collection

60-min collection

time

cesium

0.06

0.092

iodine

0.79

0.85

tellurium

0.00

0.007

These releases are for a rapid temperature rise associated with reactor events and would not

be representative of most industrial fire scenarios. The release fractions listed would

represent losses after fuel cladding failure (>660 oC). No data was presented for the other

categories of radionuclides (e.g. other nonvolatiles) but their release must be bounded by the

release of tellurium (7E-3).

4.3.2

E xp losive S tress: S h ock , B last, an d V en tin g

4.3.2.1

S h ock E ffects

The response of materials that undergo brittle fracture such as aggregates and glass may not

be adequately described by the Steindler and Seefeldt empirical correlation based on materials

that undergo plastic deformation such as metals and aqueous solutions. Although the elastic

response of materials can play an important part for the instantaneous stress generated by

detonations, the presence of solids of varying strengths (e.g. concrete) would indicate some

subdivision that is a function of the initial particle size of the solids. However, the use made

of the Steindler-Seefelt correlation in this handbook is considered sufficiently conservative

that it can be accepted as a bound for aggregate materials. Accordingly, for detonations in

or contiguous to aggregate materials, a respirable release of the mass of inert material equal

to the calculated TNT equivalent is assessed to be bounding.

4.3.2.2

B last E ffects

For the pressure impulses generated by explosive events that may entrain and hurl aggregate

materials, the crush-impact correlation presented in section 4.3.3 may be used to characterize

the response provided an impact velocity can be estimated. No experimentally measured

values for ARF and RF are available. If aggregate materials are not hurled at considerable

velocity, no significant airborne release is postulated. The potential releases for loose

surface contamination on the solid are covered in Chapter 5.

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