Nuclear Weapons and their effects

Naval Weapons Systems

Objectives

Know the different classifications of nuclear weapons yields, intended targets, delivery methods. Know how fission and fusion reactions are achieved. Know the critical components of fission and fusion warheads and the principles of operation. Define critical mass and know what it is dependent upon. Understand the characteristics of nuclear explosions and the damage mechanisms.

Why do we Care?
At the center of the ring lies a crater 200 feet deep and 1000 feet in diameter. The rim of this crater is 1,000 feet wide and is composed of highly radioactive soil and debris. Nothing recognizable remains within about 3,200 feet (0.6 miles) from the center, except, perhaps, the remains of some buildings' foundations. At 1.7 miles, only some of the strongest buildings -- those made of reinforced, poured concrete -- are still standing. Ninety-eight percent of the population in this area are dead Radius: 2.7 miles Virtually everything is destroyed between the 12 and 5 psi rings. The walls of typical multi-story buildings, including apartment buildings, have been completely blown out. The bare, structural skeletons of more and more buildings rise above the debris as you approach the 5 psi ring. Singlefamily residences within this this area have been completely blown away -- only their foundations remain. Fifty percent of the population between the 12 and 5 psi rings are dead. Forty percent are injured. 2 psi Radius: 4.7 miles Any single-family residences that have not been completely destroyed are heavily damaged. The windows of office buildings have been blown away, as have some of their walls. The contents of these buildings' upper floors, including the people who were working there, are scattered on the street. A substantial amount of debris clutters the entire area. Five percent of the population between the 5 and 2 psi rings are dead. Forty-five percent are injured.

Effect of 1 Megaton surface blast on Madison, W

Tactical Strategic

Nuclear Weapons Classification

Yield < 100 Ktons (15 Ktons min) Eliminate personnel Yield > 100 Ktons Used on vast area targets

Weapons of Terror Perspective

Any yield will do Unpredictable Dirty Bombs
x x

Hiroshima = 13 KT Nagasaki = 22 KT

Nuclear Explosives

Energy released is much greater than with chemical explosives (per weight of explosive).

Fission
Atoms of heavy unstable isotopes are split by high speed neutrons. Split nucleus releases energy and more neutrons. These neutrons go on to split more nuclei. Reaction also produces heat and radiation.

Fusion
The combining of Hydrogen nuclei to form Helium, matter is destroyed in the process

Nuclear Warheads
Changing configuration of atomic nucleus:
Changing configuration of nucleus changing binding energy.
x

Binding energy energy required to hold nucleons (protons & neutrons) together to form a nucleus. Changing of the nucleus configuration increases the amount of binding energy. Changing the configuration of the nucleus may be accomplished through two types of nuclear Fission reactions:

Fusion

Difference Between Fission and Fusion

Fission
Splitting of very heavy nucleus into 2 or more lighter nuclei.
Best when atomic # very high.

Releases energy when a heavy nucleus splits. Occurs spontaneously but very rarely. (Uranium, Plutonium) Controlled fission occurs through injection of additional neutrons with very high kinetic energy. Binding energy increases with increasing # nucleons. 1 lb of Uranium 16,000,000 lbs of TNT

Fusion
Combination of 2 or more light nuclei to make 1 heavier nucleus. Releases energy when light nuclei are combined. 1 lb of Deuterium 52,000,000 lbs of TNT

Fission Chain Reaction

Gun-Type Warhead Design

Gun-Type Warhead
-Uncomplicated -Critical mass of 235U separated. -Prevents inadvertent detonation.

-Two sub-critical masses brought together quickly while injecting neutrons.

-Efficiency very low due to bomb blowing itself apart. (<5%) -No longer has critical mass. -Chain reaction stops.

Little Boy Hiroshima

Improvements of Fission Warhead Design (Implosion Weapon)

Imploding fissionable material -Prevents fizzle a premature end to reaction. -2 halves placed inside of hollow shell of high explosive. -Implodes inward, compressing material, sustaining chain reaction.

Tamper (Br sphere)

Less neutron leakage.
Neutrons leaving body of explosive without reacting with fission material.

Confines fission material allowing it to fission longer.

Fat Man -

Fusion Bomb

Fusion Warhead

Entire fusion fuel consumed.

Extreme reliability and rapidity.

Calls for:
Extremely high temperature and pressure (like fusion on the sun) Fission detonation is only possible option. (fission trigger)
Gamma radiation exerts radiation pressure on fusion material. Crushes the fusion material into reacting (7 x 108 psi). As pressure increases, heat increases (1010 oK). Thermal motion of fusion material is sufficiently energetic. Known as thermonuclear fusion.

Nuclear Weapons Safety

Prevention of Unauthorized Detonation

Issues are two-fold:
Protect security of existing weapon.
Restricted access. Armed guards. Protective storage facilities. Fences, motion detectors, etc. Two person integrity.

Prevent terrorists from building their own.

Production of fission material through enrichment of Uranium. Breeder reactor grade Plutonium. Design of high explosives to create powerful implosions. Develop of neutron source technology. Procurement of highly specialized technical knowledge required to produce high yield nuclear weapons.

Classifications
s

Initial/Prompt Radiation
Received in first minute, damage primarily from neutrons and gamma radiation.
Blast Heat Light EMP

Residual Radiation
Alpha Beta Gamma Neutron Fallout

TREE Blackout

Residual Radiation Products

Alpha (large & heavy) Beta (small & light) Neutron (small & heavy) Gamma (EM radiation)

Helium nucleus from fusion skin Electron or positronclothing Excess neutrons not used in nuclear reactionswater Produced by excess neutrons absorbed by air & nuclear reaction byproductslead

Brain Teaser
You are Given: Alpha Cookie Beta Cookie Neutron Cookie Gamma Cookie Problem: You must eat one, hold one in your hand, put one in your pocket, and throw one away

Solution: - Eat the Gamma cookie - Hold the Alpha cookie in your hand - Put the beta Cookie in your pock

Review of Weapons effects

+
Triple Point
Incident Wave Reflected Wave Mach Wave

Peak overpressure

Mach Wave

Ground/Surface

Mach

Underwater Blast Effects

Underwater Explosion
Cavity (Bubble) of High pressure gas/heat/water vapor Hydrostatic Pressure Fluctuations
Expansion and Compression

Energy Losses
90% of the bubbles energy dissipates on 1st expansion Acoustic and heat radiation

Multiple Shock Waves

Due to pulsating bubble as it rises Proximity of boundaries. (Bottom and Surface)

Affect of an Underwater Blast

Explosion

ac Surf

eR

ti flec e

on
S Direct hock

Bottom Reflection

Seismic Shock

Energy From a Nuclear Air Burst

Blast & Shock 50%

Thermal Radiation (Heat) 35%

10% 5%

Residual Nuclear Radiation

Initial Nuclear Radiation

Nuclear

Special Purpose Weapons

ThermoNuclear Fission Hydrogen - Fusion Radiation Weapons - Neutron Bomb EMP (greatest in high altitude bursts)

Hiroshima yield 125kT of TNT??? Current Max Yield 25MT of TNT (200 times!!) Effective lethal Range of 100k Nuke
Blast (40 pse overpressure) Blast Wind (600mph) Radiation (lethal does of 500 Rem) Thermal pulse .5 miles .7 miles 1.4 miles 2.4 miles

Weapons Tests

Operation Hardtack 1, a series of 35 tests to test the effects of Nuclear weapons, this included High altitude tests, surface, deep underwater tests and shallow water tests. They also served to test the designs of nuclear weapons Part of Navy Training film on Nuclear weapon effects on ships Operation Fishbowl High altitude weapons test, early development of Nuclear tipped interceptor missiles needed to test their ability to operate in the High EMP

Nuclear tests, Continued

An

8 kiloton underwater nuclear test. Hat, 20 kt test at sea and a conventional simulation of a nuclear explosion to further test the effects on ships. Several shots of damage being cause inside the ship

Sailor

Sample Scenario, New York

A 150 kiloton bomb constructed by terrorists is detonated in the heart of Manhattan, at the foot of the Empire State Building. The bomb goes off without warning at noon time. It's a clear spring day with a breeze to the east.
Assumptions There is no warning. The population has not been evacuated nor sought shelter. Both measures could reduce casualties. There is clear weather, with visibility of 10 miles (16 km). This is an isolated attack, leaving the rest of the country free to respond. A large percentage of the day time population is outside - 25%. The daytime population density is roughly uniform and about 125,000 per square mile. The shock wave will spread out uniformly in all directions, being minimally affected by structures.

1 Sec after detonation

Blast Wave At the end of the first second, the shock wave will have an overpressure of 20 psi. at a distance of four tenths of a mile from ground zero. Even the most heavily reinforced steel and concrete buildings will be destroyed. Casualties This circle contains a daytime population of roughly 75,000. There will be no survivors. Those caught outside will be exposed to the full effects of the blast, including severe lung and ear drum damage and exposure to flying debris. Those in the direct line of sight of the blast will be exposed to a thermal pulse in excess of 500 cal/sq.cm., causing instant death. Those inside, though shielded from some of the blast and thermal effects, will be killed as buildings collapse.

4 Sec after detonation

Blast Wave
An overpressure of at least 10 psi. extends out for 1 mile. Concrete and steel reinforced commercial buildings will be destroyed or severely damaged out to the edge of this ring. The few buildings that remain standing on the outside edge of this ring will have their interiors destroyed. Though the thermal pulse is intense enough to ignite most materials, the shock wave will likely extinguish most fires in this ring.

Casualties Most people inside buildings will be killed by flying debris or die as the buildings collapse. Almost all those outside and not in the direct line of sight of the blast will receive lung and ear drum injuries to varying degrees. Those in the direct line of sight will be killed instantly by the thermal pulse. Fatalities are estimated at 300,000 with many of the remaining 100,000 receiving some form of nonfatal injury.

6 Sec after detonation

Blast Wave In the next two seconds the shock wave moves out another half mile, extending the destruction out to a 1.5 mile radius. The overpressure has dropped to 5 psi. at the outer edge of this ring, an area of 4 square miles. Reinforced structures are heavily damaged and unreinforced residential type structures of brick and wood are destroyed. Casualties This ring contains 500,000 people during the day. About 190,000 will be killed inside buildings by flying debris. This is roughly half of the assumed indoor population. The other 190,000 will suffer varying degrees of injuries. Most of those outside and not in the direct line of sight of the explosion will escape direct injury from the blast, but may be injured by flying objects. The thermal pulse is still sufficiently intense (40 cal/sq.cm.) to kill anyone in the direct line of sight; approximately 30,000. Those people fortunate enough to be under ground will escape with no injuries. The total number of injured will be approximately 220,000, leaving roughly 60,000 uninjured.

10 Sec after detonation

Blast Wave This band extends out to a 2.5 mile radius and has an overpressure at the outside edge of 2 psi. Reinforced structures will receive varying amounts of damage, with those buildings at the edge being almost completely undamaged. Wood and brick buildings will receive moderate amounts of initial damage, with the damage becoming less at the outside edge of the ring.

Casualties An estimated 235,000 people (15%) will be fatalities in this ring, with another 525,000 injured to varying degrees. No injuries will be due directly to the blast overpressure, however the thermal pulse will still be sufficient to kill or incapacitate those not indoors or otherwise protected. The degree of injury from the thermal pulse will depend greatly on clothing and skin color. Darker clothing and skin will absorb more of the energy, giving a more severe burn. The material type and thickness will also determine the severity of burns from the thermal pulse.

10 Sec after detonation

Blast Wave This band extends out for almost 4 miles and has an overpressure of 1 psi. at its outside edge. At the inner edge there will be light to moderate amounts of damage to unreinforced buildings of brick and wood. Reinforced structures and commercial buildings will receive light damage at most.

Casualties Though this ring covers an additional 30 square miles, much of this area is over water or less densely populated areas. The affected population in this ring is estimated to be 500,000. There will be almost no fatalities in this ring and only a small percentage, roughly 30,000, will receive injuries from the thermal pulse. Flashblindness and permanent retinal injuries from the blast will extend out beyond 20 miles.

Estimated Casualties
Casualties Distance from GZ (mi.) Population 0 - 0.4 75,000 0.4 - 1.0 400,000 1.0 - 1.5 500,000 1.5 - 2.5 1,500,000 2.5 - 4.0 500,000 Totals 2,975,000 Fatalities Injuries 75,000 0 300,000 100,000 220,000 220,000 235,000 525,000 0 30,000 830,000 875,000 Uninjured 0 0 60,000 740,000 470,000 1,270,000

Fission - Basics
Nuclear detonation started by creating chain reaction.
To sustain reaction, must be enough fissionable material in the right physical configuration so that released neutrons will cause other reactions before being lost to absorption or leakage.
Critical mass - minimum density of material to sustain reaction Sub-critical mass not dense enough radioactive material to sustain reaction. Super critical mass dense enough to cause ever-increasing reaction.

Induces ever-increasing number of reactions until either entire mass consumed or something stops it.
Fission Reactor
Controlled Manner Control rods absorb neutrons

Fission Warhead

Principles of Operation
Nucleus is held together by attraction between nucleons (nuclear force). -Much stronger than electromagnetic force that holds molecules together (chemical explosion). -Nuclear binding energy much greater than molecular binding energy.

4ev to remove 1st electron of He 4ev to remove 2nd electron of He 8ev molecular binding energy

ompared to 28Mev to separate protons and 2 neutrons

.6 x 105 times greater

Binding Energy per Nucleon

s

Binding Energy per Nucleon

Peaks at atomic number 56 (Fe). Less than 56 Fusion material
Best when atomic # is low.

Greater than 56 Fission material

U held together by 7.5Mev per nucleon.| Diminishing returns the 1763Mev total (before).
235

Best when atomic # is high.

closer to 56. 235 U after split 8.5Mev per nucleon.| 235U and 239 Pu most 2000Mev total (after). commonly used for warheads. 237Mev released in reaction. Fission more energy per

Binding Energy per Nucleon

Fission

Splitting of very heavy nucleus into 2 or more lighter nuclei.

Fission Warhead
Must be reliable and rapid. Usually produces at least one neutron or more. Neutrons cause exponentially increasing reactions.

Deuterium Tritium

Deuterium-Tritium Fusion Energy Change between total binding + +

energy (before an after).

H + 3H 4 He + n + 18Mev
-8Mev -28Mev

Mev

Before

After

ev (-28Mev) = 18 Mev energy released

Deuterium-Tritium Fusion
s

(1000g/D-T) (1 mol/5g) (6.02x1023 nuclei/mol) (1.6 x 10-19 J/eV) = 3.5 x1014 J TNT release 4.68 x 106 J Relative Strength = (3.5 x 1014) / (4.68 x 106) = 7.5 x 107 or 75 million times the strength of TNT