OPERATIONS AND SAFETY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A NUCLEAR EXCAVATION PROJECT

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES NORMALLY REQUIRED FOR THE CONDUCT OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS INCLUDE SUCH ACTIVITIES AS PRE-SHOT SAFETY STUDIES, EMPLACEMENT AND FIRING OF THE NUCLEAR CHARGES, SHOT TIME SAFETY AND CONTROL, AND POST-SHOT SAFETY MEASURES. FOR SAFETY, ENGINEERING, AND SCIENTIFIC REASONS, THE 22 NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES REQUIRED FOR PROJECT CARRYALL WILL BE FIRED IN TWO STAGES. WHEN SAFETY PERMITS AFTER THE DETONATIONS, THE SITE WILL BE RETURNED TO HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS FOR ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION. SAFETY HAZARDS SUCH AS RADIOACTIVITY, FALLOUT, AIR BLAST, AND GROUND SHOCK HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF PAST EXPERIENCE WITH NUCLEAR CRATERING EXPLOSIONS AND PRESENT KNOWLDEGE OF THE CARRYALL AREA. THESE EVALUATIONS HAVE SHOWN NO HAZARD GREAT ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR ENDANGER LOCAL INHABITANTS. INITIAL SITE INVESTIGATIONS WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD A BETTER DEFINITION OF THESE PROBLEMS AND A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE GEOLOGY OF THE AREA. THE PRESENT PLOWSHARE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DATA FOR THE CONDUCT AND DESIGN OF NUCLEAR EXCAVATION PROJECTS SUCH AS CARRYALL. THE TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE PROJECT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY COMPLETION SCHEDULE, THE INTERESTS OF THE SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY, AND THE PRESENT EXPERIMENTAL SCHEDULE OF THE PLOWSHARE PROGRAM. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1964/50/50-004.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Zodtner, Harlan H
• Publication Date: 1964

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 40-47
• Monograph Title: Nuclear Excavation 1963
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 50
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air; Blast loads; Contaminants; Design; Ground effect; Nuclear excavation; Nuclear explosions; Road construction; Safety; Shock waves
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• Old TRIS Terms: Blasts; Project carryall; Radioactive contamination
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00214413
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 1 1994 12:00AM