Air Blast and Ground Shock Waves Generated at Long Distances from Demolitions of High Explosives

Abstract

A summary of air blast wave and seismic wave measurements at long distances from chemical detonations obtained during a survey of demolition activities at installations of the Field Service Division, Ordnance Ammunition Command, is presented. Disturbances to surrounding residents as a result of demolition activities were found to be traceable solely to air blast waves, seismic disturbances generated directly by the demolition being far too small at the distances in question to be of consequence. The intensities of the air blast waves were found to depend primarily on weather conditions at the time of detonation, and less than one might expect on the quantity of explosive detonated. Under ideal conditions for blast wave propagation as much as five-fold enhancement above ?normal? intensity of the air blast wave pressure was noted, while under conditions least favorable for propagating the blast wave as much as a twenty-fold reduction from ?normal? was measured. Comparison of results with information concerning damage to structures from air blast and seismic disturbances revealed that no damage was being caused by the demolition activities.