The Design of Buried Arches to Resist Loads

Since data presently available do not reveal exactly how air-induced ground shock is transmitted through soil or what effect various soils have in attenuating such shock, the actual loading of buried structures is not known with certainty. Therefore, for design purposes, it is necessary to assume certain loading conditions. Once the shape and magnitude of this load are assumed, the actual structural design is relatively straightforward. However, shock is only one important nuclear effect to consider in the design of protective installations; the other is nuclear radiation. Provision for sufficient shielding against nuclear radiation must be considered as a part of the design. However, the design of structures to resist nuclear radiation is not included in this paper. Presented at the Office of Civil Defense Soil Structure Interaction Symposium Held at Arizona Univ. on 8-11 Jun 64.