The failure of crater scaling from conventional to nuclear explosions
is believea to result bots from tne enormous disparity in energy release (and tois also applies pvetween kiloton and megaton nuclear explosions) and also from tne importan~ difference in energy partition in the
two types of explosions.
In general it is Known tnat the dimensions of the crater (radius
or depth) are affected or determined by the total energy release, the
depth of the cnarge and the cnaracter of the medium (earth) in which
the charge is fired.
If these parameters operate independently, then
one could write an empirical equa*ion in the form

R= f(Wo.

(DJ! . f(m)

R= f(Wo

"(D,! * f(m)

or in the form

7

wnere R is tne radius
Wis related to energy release,energy density, and detonation
velocity
D,. is the depth of tne charge

mis related to the medium.

In this case tne separate contrib.tion of each of the parameters can be
determined easily.
If, nowever, ‘ne parameters are interdependent it
is necessary to use the form

R =c(W. DL,

a)

and the effect of varying any one of the parameters is much more complicated because it depends on ti.e velues at whicn the other parameters
are maintained.
There is general agreement among investigators that the parameters
affecting craters are in fact extensively interrelated.
The universal
use of scaling concepts, particularly in regard to the scaled depth of
charge is evidence in point.
Thu:, in regard to the effect of energy
release and deptn of cnarge a sat: sfactory form for the equation is

R= f(W

. *(W, L,),

or aS a more specific example,

where k is approximately 3.
Tne :nclusion of an additional term to
represent tue effect or different mediums could be in several forms,

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