APPENDIX "C"
-
PROGRAM3,0 - EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES
The structures program was sponsored jointly by the Army, Navy and ALr Poree.
In addition, the Federal Civil Defense Administration sponsored a test to determine
the effect of blast on windows,
The program comprised a total of twenty~seven test
- buildings and shelters erected at various distances from the "EASY" shot ground zero
on three separate islands,
The structures were designed in late 1949 on the basis of
the best available information on blast loading and structural response,
Use was mad:
of experimental data from shock tubes, and laboratory tests of materials and elements
under dynamic loading.
A medium degree of damage between superficial and collapse
was desired for test purposes,
The structures were So Jocated as to sustain median
damage, based on energy yleld predictions and pressure distance data furnished by ‘the
Commander, Task Group 3,1.
2.
ARMY TRSTS
The Army sponsored a three~story building having several independent sec~
tions of different types cf construction, and a composite shelter of three sections;
cubicular reenrorced concrete, cylindrical reonforced concrete and cylindrical cor~
rugated steel,
Damage to the three-story building was slight, but it was sufficient
to furnish @ basis for checking design criteria and methods,
The shelter sections
were undamaged and provided adequate protection against blast and nuclear radiation
effects,
3e
NAVY TESTS
The Navy had twelve test structures , generally about 20 by 40
fect in plan,
of a type that would be employed for magazines, storage, and
personnel shelters,
Pre~
cast construction was employed in most of the buildings
because of its adaptability
to overseas use and its relative cheapne 88.
Two of the structures were of heavy re-
aiferced concrote construction and were inten
ded to test the feasibility of providing»
protection at a distance of only 83 yards
from ground zero, Damago to most of the Navy
structures
2 however,
:
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ae
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.
.
much useful
information
was obtained
on the comparative value of various types of building
s, Detailed data on the mode of failure
of
structural elements were also obtained
,
4.
ATR FORCE TESTS
Buildings sponsored by the Air Porce were
typical of those which mircht be
attacked, There was no specific desi
gn to resist blast but rather a sele
ction of
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