Simulation of the underwater nuclear explosion and its effects

Abstract : This research was conducted to enhance understanding of the use of high explosives to simulate the effects of a nuclear underwater explosion. A review of the known characteristics of the nuclear, spherical conventional, and tapered conventional underwater pressure-time histories illustrates the selection of the tapered charge to simulate the underwater nuclear explosion. Three areas of study were then pursued. The first compared the structural response resulting from attack by conventional and nuclear type pressure profiles, verifying the need to match duration as well as peak pressure when simulating the underwater nuclear explosion. The second employed finite element analysis to study the three dimensional shock generated by a tapered charge. Third, a computer program was written to couple an optimizer with an existing tapered charge pressure-profile generating code to improve the tapered charge design process. Nuclear underwater shock.