The Data -

The maximum range at which seismic waves from the largest nuclear
detonations to date at the Nevada Test Site are known to have been
perceived by persons without the benefits of instruments has been
about 100 miles.

These few persons were situated under conditions

favorable to the amplification of the ground motions.

No structural

damage from ground motion has been experienced beyond about six miles
from the site of the nuclear detonations.

Evaluation Records of ground motion are now available for many underground
nuclear explosions.

Analyses of data and application of geophysical

principles is resulting in a steady improvement in methods of prediction of ground motions for planned events.
The fact that the ground motions from underground nuclear explosions are different in some respects from those from an earthquake and
the need to predict marginal damage to structures for such explosions
requires a new approach.

The analytical procedures for structural

response generally are valid and can be applied.

However, it is nec-

essary to obtain direct test information.. For these purposes the

Atomic Energy Commission is spending over $1,000,000 annually.

Until

more data are developed, conservative estimates of the effects may be

made by comparison with damage which might be expected from the same
amplitude of ground motion in an earthquake.

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