Influence of Backfill Properties on the Collapse of Pipes Under Dynamic Loads

Important to the successful stemming and containment of underground nuclear explosions is the ability of ground shock pressures generated by an explosion to collapse the line-of-sight (LOS) pipe for a significant distance from the zero point. Prior to this study, the influence of the strength and density of the various grouts used to couple the steel LOS pipe to the parent rock on the collapse of the LOS pipe was not known except in general qualitative terms. Dynamic tests were conducted on a copper tube embedded in grouts of various physical properties and explosively loaded by a traveling detonation wave. The grouts were chosen to be representative of those used at the Nevada Test Site and to provide a significant range of strength and density. All tests were conducted underwater to ensure explosive coupling and to facilitate measurement of the dynamic pressures generated by the explosion. A theoretical analysis of a typical test cross section was made assuming the tubing and the grouts to behave as rigid plastic materials and the traveling load to be stationary. (Modified author abstract)