Ventilation Kinetics Testing of a Steel Frame/Rubber Fabric Underground Shelter

摘要

Design modifications were implemented on a respectively new steel frame/rubberfabric underground shelter to improve its collective protection characteristics for usage in an NBC warfare environment. Design changes were evaluated by analyzing volumetric air flow and pressure data collected from ventilation tests conducted for each design modification. Modifications to doors within the shelter proved to have significant impact on its performance. One door modification utilized velcro and rubber adhesives to attach the doorflap on the positive pressure side of the doorway. This modification increased maximum overpressure attained by the shelter from 0.125 inches of water (in.WG) to 1.8 in.WG over its original design. Test results indicated that this was due to a substantial decrease in the effective leakage areas associated with all of the doorways. At this higher overpressure, the risk of airborne nuclear fallout, biological agents, or vapors from chemical agents or aerosols penetrating into the shelter during exit/entry operations would be greatly reduced.