Large Blast/Thermal Simulator
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) operates and maintains the Large Blast/Thermal Simulator (LB/TS), a state-of-the-art test facility. Originally it was constructed to simulate the blast and thermal conditions of a nuclear explosion in an environmentally safe manner. The LB/TS became operational in October 1995. In the last few years the simulator's capability was expanded to support anti-terrorism missions. The facility is capable of handling 20 nuclear simulation tests and at least 20 anti-terrorism tests annually.
Located on 50 acres in the northwest corner of White Sands Missile Range , N.M. , it is the largest and most unique blast and thermal simulator in the world. It is capable of testing full-scale military systems such as armored vehicles, missile launchers, communication shelters, radomes and aircraft. Nuclear simulation customers can test their systems using thermal or blast conditions, or a combination of both. The LB/TS is available to Department of Defense agencies, other U.S. government organizations, companies and allied government experimenters at a reasonable cost.
The blast simulation is produced by the release of heated, pressurized nitrogen gas into the 176-meter long, 20-meter diameter expansion tunnel. The resulting blast environment strikes the test object with a planar shock wave. Eight thermal jets located just before the target section of the LB/TS produce thermal simulation. By using the thermal simulation, a target is exposed to extreme radiant heat before the shock wave arrival, simulating the heat generated by a fireball from a detonated nuclear weapon. The simulator's integrated data acquisition system measures and digitally records over 200 channels of environment and target reaction data. The customer uses this data to evaluate their system for survivability and vulnerability from a nuclear detonation.
The LB/TS is also used to conduct anti-terrorism testing. It now has the unique ability to use high explosive detonation cord to test the survivability of material used for the outside walls and windows of buildings (the curtain wall) against simulated terrorist threats.
The LB/TS has been maintained to ensure that the basic system is operational and most tests can be performed without delays or problems. However, not all capabilities are currently available and recent increases in potential requirements in the areas of anti-terrorism and full-scale military systems have emerged. The expected increase in utilization rate will require advanced planning and scheduling from both the customers and DTRA to assure that needed capabilities are available without conflicts or delays.
The LB/TS capabilities are a result of more than 10 years of cooperative research and development between DTRA and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. The LB/TS receives some additional support from the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, Test Directorate, Range Program Office.
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
DTRA safeguards America and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives) by providing capabilities to reduce, eliminate, and counter the threat, and mitigate its effects. This Department of Defense combat support agency is located at Fort Belvoir, Va., and operates field offices worldwide.
Not very effective for recyling bin volume reduction, but wayyyy cool!
