eet.
Blast Mtg Notes, 29 Dec 51

The critical region seems to be from 20 psi down to about 7 psi.
Disagreements are almost a factor of three in this region. This is again
applicable to the question of post-detonation - pre-shock measurements,

i.@., What happens to the air after the bomb goes off and before the shock

hibu itt

Before the shock ever comes along there is dust over the ground

and absorption by thermal radiation.

Porzel said that one could not measure the dust in the air before
the shock arrives by measuring density, because the change is only a
fraction of a per cent--although it still may have « significant effect
in absorption. He thought that for this determination one should measure

the temperature rise.

Various methods for doing this were discussed.

was Suggested that NRL-Stewart might be asked to measure

ture and air absorption both on Ivy and Snapper.

It

pre-shock tempera-

Both air temperature and density enter into the shock equations,

but it Was suggested that sound velocity enters even more directly. It
was thought that this could be measured rather simply in the pre-shock

period, and it may be in some cases the parameter of most interest. (Whitener
is working on an acoustic interferometer for use in measuring the afterwinds

conceivably this could get sound velocity as well.)
The question was raised:

if sound velocity measurements are made,

does One also want to know the density or temperature? Whitener thought
the firet would preclude the latter only if the equation of state of the gas
is the same after detonation as before, and one can say this situation is

governed by the ideal gas laws.

If this condition does not apply, then the

sound Velocity measured may not give yP/p, which is what cne wants.

However,

in any dase, one needs to know sound velocity in this perturbed region

containing dust and air.

The important question in all this is, of course, whether these
effecta=-dust, temperature changes, etc.--change the shock pressure. Ogle
asked that before any decision was made, Porzel and Zadina look more thoroughly
into this to decide just what factors are pertinent, and whatever they are,
that We measure them at at least a few points. Zadina emphasized that this

must be done before Snapper, anyway.

The stations indicated on Table I were chosen for measurements of

the parameters decided to be important.

The positions were

picked for

regions of interesting pressures, and in addition, there are already structures

on Bagebi and Aomon which can be used,

As noted above, NRL will be asked if

they Can measure temperature and air absorption; the responsibility for sound

velocity and density will belong to Sandia and/or J-10.

“RAE:

Select target paragraph3