Design of Underground Structures to Resist Nuclear Blast. Volume II: Final Report

Merritt, J.L.; Newmark, N.M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/13693 Copy

Description

Title

Design of Underground Structures to Resist Nuclear Blast. Volume II: Final Report

Author(s)

• Merritt, J.L.
• Newmark, N.M.

Issue Date

1958-04

Keyword(s)

• Explosion tests
• strength

Abstract

This project was undertaken with the purpose of evaluating the experimental results from explosion tests involving underground structures. From this evaluation a set of recommendations for the design of underground protective structures was prepared. These recommendations are presented herein. Primarily these recommendations define the structural strength necessary to resist the forces produced by a surface burst of a nuclear weapon. Basically three types of construction using reinforced concrete and steel are discussed. These types are slabs, arches, and domes. The recommendations concerning these types imply loading and resistance functions which may be used for other related types of construction. A brief discussion of the major parameters which influence the forces acting on a structure is followed by a specification of the peak magnitude and time variation of these forces. Specific details which define the net forces acting on the elements of the basic structural types are given. Following a discussion of the effects of the size and function of a structure is a specification of the basic properties of reinforced concrete and steel. Two methods for the design of reinforced concrete elements are given, and detailed charts allowing rapid determination of the parameters which define the response of reinforced concrete members are presented. One method of design is based on a modification to the ACI Building Code while the other is developed herein, The details of the latter are included as an appendix to this volume. Finally specific design recommendations are enumerated and several example designs are presented. Because the descriptions of some of the procedures are rather lengthy it is difficult to summarize them all completely in any single section. However, each recommendation has been given a subject heading which is included in the Table of Contents. For some of the cases considered, present knowledge is not adequate for a rational derivation of a design procedure. In such instances the best estimates of the authors are presented based on current knowledge, and depending heavily on the present judgment of engineers who have had experience in dynamic structural design for nuclear blast conditions. The authors' own experience, especially with atomic field tests, has been drawn on freely as a guide in formulating design criteria where analysis and experimental evidence are lacking.

Publisher

University of Illinois Engineering Experiment Station. College of Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Series/Report Name or Number

Civil Engineering Studies SRS-149

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/13693

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• Protective Construction Branch. Engineering Division, Military Construction. Office of the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army.
• Contract DA-49-129-eng-312

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