Ammunition Storage Research Articles

Rock dynamics research related to cavern development for Ammunition storage

Researches on rock dynamics related to a cavern development project for ammunition storage in Singapore have been carried out. The researches include the study of dynamic properties of rock material (strength, modulus, constitutive relations), dynamic normal and shear properties of rock joints, shock wave propagation across joints and through the rock mass, and dynamic response of the rock mass and structures in rock using the discrete element method. The results obtained from the research works provide the necessary input to the design and construction of the cavern project.

Investigations of the watershield effect on blast waves: One and two-dimensional study

The object of this analysis is to investigate the mitigation effects of watershield on blast waves numerically. One application of current work is to resolve the design concerns for the ammunition storage facilities. To verify the numerical procedure using a multimaterial Eulerian finite element method, the results are compared with the available experimental data for detonation in a pressured tank, and the analytical predictions for air shocks. Features of the free-field detonation process are then studied from a series of one-dimensional simulations. The magnitude of peak pressure decreases and shock arrival time increases with increasing thickness of watershield. For design analysis, the case of two-dimensional axisymmetric geometry (a vertical) right-circular cylinder) with a central charge is also considered. The full process including initial detonation, shock wave propagation and reflection from the outer rigid boundary is examined. For the explosives immersed in water, the magnitude of peak pressure becomes smaller than those in air tank without watershield. At later time period, the average gas pressure left in the air tank is about 20 bar.

Uticaj provetravanja na promenu temperature i relativne vlažnosti u objektu za skladištenje municije

Temperature and relative humidity in one of ammunition storage buildings are monitored as well as ventilation effects on the change of the given parameters values in order to investigate stored ammunition corrosion. The investigations have shown that the ventilation effects on temperature and relative humidity change are not lasting ones and that they slow down corrosion process in a very low degree.

Development of risk assessment techniques for use in the field of explosives and ammunition

Abstract After reviewing the techniques currently used for ensuring that the risks inherent in the storage of explosives and ammunition are maintained at an acceptably low level, a Risk Assessment technique is developed. The technique is based on a systematic approach to hazard identification through the use of a HAZOP procedure and Fault Trees together with occasional use of Event Trees where a single initiating event, such as a lightning strike, can lead to a number of top events. Quantification of the Fault Trees taking full account of the important contributions of human factors enables the frequency of unintended initiations to be estimated. Analysis of the consequence of these initiations allows the risk levels to be estimated. It is found that the risk levels achieved by application of the current NATO Safety Principles based on Quantity Distances are considerably lower for materials of Hazard Divisions 1.2 and 1.3 than 1.1. The present approach provides a significant advance over previous work in ...

An Attempt to Use the Leslie Census Method on Deer

In 1948, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were released within a 2,500-acre enclosure on the Clarksville Naval Base, Tennessee. By 1957, herd control was necessary and deer were trapped and removed as part of a deer restoration program. To facilitate maintaining the herd at moderate levels, an estimate of its size was needed. The Lincoln index was used for this purpose in 1961 and 1963. The 1958-65 trapping program provided an opportunity to apply the Leslie census method, which involves plotting trapping success against cumulative removal and extrapolating to the number that will be removed when trapping success becomes zero. This method underestimated herd size because we were unable to meet one of the conditions for its use: that the vulnerability of the population not change during the census period. Salt was the only bait used for trapping and apparently the deer's physiological desire for salt increased in the spring and decreased in the fall. The Leslie method will be more suitable for deer census in these circumstances when we can accurately quantify the seasonal changes in catchability. In 1948, six Texas white-tailed deer were released by U. S. Navy personnel within the ammunition storage depot of the Clarksville Naval Base. This depot, located near Clarksville, Tennessee, contains approximately 2,500 acres enclosed with three deer-proof security fences. No hunting was permitted within the depot until the fall of 1966 when a few bucks were removed by military personnel, and no dogs or other predators were present, so the herd grew rapidly. Security restrictions have not permitted cover mapping or a browse survey of this depot, but an estimated 50 percent of the area consists of old fields containing favored deer browse plants like sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and sumac (Rhus spp.). The remaining area contains scattered oak-hickory woodlots, brush, roads, and buildings. By 1957 the vegetation showed considerable evidence of being overbrowsed. Browse lines were apparent on red cedar (Juniperus virginianus) and other vegetation. U. S. Navy personnel asked the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission for suggestions on controlling the herd. The only 1 Present address: Oklahoma Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Stillwater, Oklahoma. 760 solution seemed to be to remove deer by trapping, because military security regulations would not permit shooting or public access. The Commission proposed to use the trapped deer in their restoration pro-

A Captive Elk Herd in Missouri

A captive herd of 103 elk was exterminated by hunting. The herd had increased from 10 elk to 103 elk after eight calving seasons. Sex and age ratios indicated some mortality. Average annual rate of increase was calculated to be 28 percent. The population density of 1 elk per 23 acres was very near the carrying capacity of the range. Acorns and grass were the most important foods in the fall diet. These data were collected during extermination of a captive herd of American elk (Cervus canadensis) confined on an ammunition storage depot known as Tyson in St. Louis County, Missouri. The storage depot covers 2,373 acres which are surrounded by an 8-foot-high chain-link fence. Oak-hickory forest cover the steep slopes and ridges which compose most of the area. There are only about 250 acres of grassy bottomland clearings. The original stocking of 10 elk (2 bulls and 8 cows) was obtained from Yellowstone National Park and released in the depot during February, 1951. The U. S. Defense Corporation, which administers the depot, contacted the Missouri Conservation Commission about management of the elk in February, 1958. An aerial survey in April, 1958, revealed 66 elk. A subsequent survey of range conditions showed very heavy utilization of available forage. Grass was available only in the bottomland clearings and was very closely grazed. Little forage was available under the closed canopy of the forest, and heavy browsing was evident on woody vegetation. A reduction of the herd was recommended. The Defense Corporation decided to eliminate the elk for safety reasons and because funds were not available for winter feeding, which would soon have become necessary. The writer expresses appreciation to F. L. Luke, Chief of Security, U. S. Defense Corporation, and H. Schwartz, Missouri Conservation Commission, for expediting collection of these data, and to Levi Mohler, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and T. S. Baskett, Missouri Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, for advice on the manu-