Shock Effects - h3010v10152

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

4.0 Solids; Powders

Long, Mason and Durst (September 1984) conducted a series of tests using spherical charges

of C-4 explosive on the soil surface with TNT equivalent ranging from 3.4 kg to 11.3 kg.

The tests were performed at two sites with sandy clay and sandy clay-sandy soil. Moisture

content ranged for one site from 6.7% to 26.7% (tests performed after a light rain) and from

7.2% to 14.9% at the second site. The soil size distributions ranged to 7.5 mm and 1.2 mm

for the sites (sieve analysis) but were not designated by site. The bulk density of the soils

ranged 1.23 to 1.94. If a common theoretic density of 3 g/cm3 is assumed for the soil, the

fraction <10 m AED would range from 0.24 to 0.26 and the fraction <100 micrometer

AED would range from 0.42 to 0.50. High volume samplers at various heights were used to

collect airborne dust samples in one series and high volume samplers at various heights plus

tethered balloons were used for the second series. Sampling distances ranged from 19 m to

75 m from the Point-of-Burst. The mass of soil dislodged (based on the apparent crater

volume) ranged from 65 to 232 TNT equivalent in kg (from 65 kg to 235 kg of soil was

dislodged for each kg of TNT equivalent of the explosive).

The ARF values (based on the mass of soil in the clouds generated, estimated to range from

1.6 kg to 7.1 kg) were estimated to range from 0.184 to 0.84 kg TNT equivalent. The

ARFs estimated for the explosions occurring in the sandy clay (moisture 6.7% to 26.7%)

were estimated to range from 0.184 to 0.568. The ARFs for the explosions occurring in the

sandy clay-sandy soil (moisture 7.2% to 14.9%) ranged from 0.544 to 0.84. The principal

parameters influencing dust generation were: in-situ soil particle size distribution; moisture

content of the soil; chemical composition of the soil; the presence/absence of vegetation; and

meteorological conditions. Based on this limited set of data, it appears that some parameter

or combination of parameters is affecting the ARFs but the specific parameter or combination

of parameters cannot be identified. Based on the difference between the mass of soil

dislodged and carried downwind and the size distribution of the soil, the soil is not

significantly deagglomerated. If the soil were completely deagglomerated, from 32 to 115

TNT equivalent (assuming 50% of the soil is in the <100 m AED size fraction) would be

anticipated downwind. Many of the powders of concern in the DOE complex are dry,

ceramic, metallic oxides that would more readily agglomerate than soils. A further

consideration would be the chemical reactivity of the powder compound and the

characteristics of the products of such a reaction.

For shock waves in open air where blast effects will quickly dissipate, an ARF of

0.8 x TNT equivalent (in kg) is assessed to be a bounding value and, based on the soil

composition and the fact that the soil does not appear to have been significantly

deagglomerated, an RF of 0.25 is assessed to be bounding. The ARF x RF of 0.2 x TNT

equivalent is not dissimilar to the ARF of 1 x TNT equivalent for the respirable size fraction

based on a conservative interpretation of the Steindler and Seefeldt (1980) correlation. That

correlation was not developed for powders, and the data reported here is considered a more

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