Effect of Textile Test Sample Size on Assessment of Protection to Skin fromThermal Radiation

摘要

Test samples of textile materials of 2.5, 7.6, 15.2, or 30.5 cm diameter wereexposed to thermal radiation sources at Central Receiver Test Facility and the Thermal Radiation Source at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The materials were exposed to fluences of 5, 10, 15 and 30 cal /sq. cm. in 1 or 3 seconds. The thermal pulse was square or approximately that of 1 KT weapon. Generally, damage to materials increased with an increase in the test sample (30.5 cm) ignited prior to 2.5 cm diameter samples. It was evident that testing with small samples of material would over-estimate the protection afforded. Comparison of test results of materials exposed to simulated and non-simulated nuclear weapons support the conclusion that protection is over-estimated by assessment of damage on exposed small test samples.