Y3 (2016-2016): EFFECT OF THE EXPLOSIVE DETONATION PRODUCTS ON SEISMIC COUPLING

• Weston Geophysical Corp, United States of America

Chemical explosions are often used as a proxy to study seismic wave radiation from nuclear explosions. Therefore, it is important to understand the physics of the chemical explosions as a source of seismic waves. One of the important features of the chemical explosions is the release of explosive gases during the explosive detonation, which is often overlooked in seismic studies. Recent observational results from chemical explosions indicate that explosive gas products may significantly affect the radiated seismic waves. For example, it is known that a higher amount of gas released in a chemical explosion results in an increase in rock damage due to the opening and propagation of fractures. However the effect of the cavity gas and the rock damage affects the far-field seismic radiation is not well understood. The field experiment is designed in order to quantify the influence of gaseous products on seismic amplitudes We will use the explosives with different amount of gaseous by-products but similar velocities of detonation. This can be achieved by adding aluminum powder to the explosive mix in order to reduce the volume of gas produced by the explosion and released into in the cavity. Adding aluminum may slightly reduce the velocity of detonation, but to a lesser degree than using different explosives. The hypothesis being tested is: "Does an increase in the volume of cavity gas cause an increase in the low frequency component of the spectra?" The analysis of the seismic signals from explosions conducted using explosives with different amounts of gas detonation products should provide: (a) insight into the role of gas effects on seismic wave generation, which is essential if chemical explosions are to be used as surrogates for nuclear tests and (b) improved methods of discriminating chemical explosions from small nuclear explosions. Of particular interest are the differences in the body (P and S) and surface (Rg and Lg) wave radiation as a function of the gas content.

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