Digital Commons Network^™

Creating And Operating The Nuclear Urban Kinetics Effects Simulator, Jerrad Phillip Auxier

Doctoral Dissertations

The ability to create an accurate method for determining the composition of post-detonation debris in an urban environment is an essential component of a proper nuclear forensics program. The methods necessary to create a high fidelity computer for modeling urban debris matrix creation is addressed. These methods include detonations varying in location in the lower 48 continental states and the yield of the weapon.

The ultimate goal of the research conducted in this area is to provide the nuclear forensics community with an effects modeling code that generates accurate urban surrogate recipes to be analyzed in laboratories. This code can …

Development, Synthesis, And Analysis Of Surrogate Post-Detonation Nuclear Melt Glass, Andrew Vincent Giminaro

Doctoral Dissertations

With the threats facing the world today, there is an ever-increasing need for training the the fields of radiochemistry and nuclear forensics. Training and research in these fields requires reference materials that accurately represent materials that could potentially be encountered. Unfortunately, many of the historical samples of debris from nuclear weapons tests remains classified. Because of this, there is a need for realistic surrogates. This research focuses on the development of surrogates for the bulk and particulate nuclear melt glass that is expected to be found in an urban setting after a nuclear event.

A mathematical model for the creation …

Preliminary Investigation For The Development Of Surrogate Debris From Nuclear Detonations In Marine-Urban Environments, Adam G. Seybert

Masters Theses

No nuclear weapon has ever been detonated in a United States city. However, this also means the nuclear forensic community has no actual debris from which to develop analytical methods for source attribution, making the development of surrogate nuclear debris a vital undertaking. Moreover, the development of marine-urban debris presents an unusual challenge because unlike soil and urban structures, which remain compositionally consistent, the elemental composition of harbor and port waters fluctuates considerably due to natural phenomenon and human activity. Additionally, marine vessel composition and cargo can vary dramatically. While early US nuclear tests were carried out in shallow-water coastal …

Production Of Nuclear Debris Surrogates For Forensic Methods Development, Joshua James Molgaard

Masters Theses

A novel method for producing synthetic debris similar to the melt glass produced by nuclear surface testing is demonstrated. Melt glass from the first nuclear weapon test (commonly referred to as trinitite) is used as the benchmark for this study. These surrogates can be used to simulate a variety of scenarios and will serve as a tool for developing and validating forensic analysis methods.

The ultimate goal is to provide the nuclear forensics community with a robust method to supply realistic yet non-sensitive surrogate materials simulating a variety of detonation scenarios. This work will also allow for the development of …