- Author
-
Woodie, W. L.
|
Remetch, D. J.
|
Small, R. D.
- Title
- Nuclear Weapon Effect Research at PSR-1983: Volume 2. Fire Spread From Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Battlefield Environments. Technical Report.
- Coporate
- Pacific-Sierra Research Corp., Los Angeles, Ca
- Report
-
DNA-TR-84-308-V2
July 31, 1984
56 p.
- Contract
- DNA-001-83-C-0015
- Keywords
-
nuclear weapons
- Abstract
- A model that predicts the initiation and spread of fire in a battlefield environment following the use of a tactical nuclear weapon is described. The analysis is based on an established fire-spread prediction algorithm developed by a U.S. Forest Service. The initial ignition distribution is related to the weapon yield, slant range, local atmospheric properties, fuel type and fuel ignition threshold. The present tactical ignition and fire spread (TIFS) model predicts the fire movement over variable terrains and accounts for ambient winds, changing vegetation, and an arbitrary number of firebreaks. The model results are presented in graphic form and trace the fire movement as a function of time superimposed over a terrain map. An example calculation illustrating the initial fire area and subsequent spread is presented for a 10 KT explosion in a complex terrain. The results show the fires extending the effective weapon damage radius and identify regions to which the fire does not spread.