Air Shock Wave Velocities over Water

Abstract

A procedure was devised for determining the air blast pressures of the A-bomb at Bikini. In such a disturbance the air particles move with large and finite amplitudes; hence, the propagated waves do not obey the ordinary laws of acoustics. By measuring the ratio of the air shock wave velocity to normal acoustic velocity, an indication may be obtained as to the peak pressure of the explosion. Blast waves in water, on the other hand, follow substantially the familiar acoustic laws and are propagated at a well-known velocity. Measurements were made of transit times at identical positions for the air and the water blast waves. These yielded immediately the desired air blast velocity in terms of the known velocity of sound in water. This procedure eliminated the need for simultaneous measurement of the continually shifting distances between buoys which carried observational equipments. However, careful positioning of the buoys was necessary in order to avoid their destruction and yet record the maximum possible air blast. These positions were calculated on the basis of an equivalent explosion from 20,000 tons of TNT. Since the measurements had to be made automatically and without human observers, special timing and recording systems were provided. All requirements for gathering the data were successfully met in the assembly of apparatus described herein.