Formulas for Canister and Pipe Design in Underground Nuclear Emplacement

Abstract

In this paper, pressure vessel theory and practice are applied to the analysis and design of long emplacement strings and canister hardware used in a complex environment of underground nuclear tests. Design formulas are given for the collapse pressure of canisters and piping under external soil pressure and for the axial response of gussetted flanges supported by the theoretical and experimental results. The paper is intended primarily as a practical treatment of a complex problem of structural response with the aid of user-oriented, closed-form solutions.