Survival 101-Blast Effects Courtesy Ken Seger's BBS (314) 821-2815 Blast effects of nuclear bomb (this is for an 80 col. printout) All distances to effect in miles. Note: airburst distances in ( ) Airburst for optimum damage for that effect, since the height of airburst changes these figures represent worst case. See example for fixed height results. MT 1psi 1.5 3 6 10 30 overpressure 0.2 4(7.5) 3(6) 2(3.4) 1.3(1.8) 1(1.2) .55(.6) 0.6 6(11) 4.5(9) 2.8(5) 1.8(2.6) 1.4(1.7) .8(.9) 1.0 7(13) 5.5(10.5) 3.3(6) 2.2(3.2) 1.6(2) .95(1.05) 5 12(23) 9(18) 5.5(10) 3.7(5.5) 2.7(3.5) 1.6(1.8) 20 19(35) 14(28) 9(16) 6(8.5) 4.3(5.5) 2.5(3.4) (note the 5 & 20 Megaton bombs only exist in old Bear and Bison class bombers) (fixed height of burst at 3,800 ft to maximize 30 PSI effect) 1 MT 9 6.5 4 2.6 1.9 1.05 (fixed height of burst at 8,500 ft to maximize 6 PSI effect) 1 MT 11 9 5 3.2 2 not at ground zero (fixed height of burst at 15,500 ft to maximize 1 PSI effect) 1 MT 13 10 4.8 1.7 not obtainable at ground zero Note 1MT yields a fireball of about 3,600 feet in radius with a maximum height for contaminating burst of 3,000 feet. British Home Office blast catgories are Class. Degree of house damage PSI range A Complete/Debris 11+ B Heavy 6-11 C Heavy to light 1.5-6 D Light,glass & tile 0.75-1.5 Examples of damage (Clayton, from Gladstone) 0.5 psi Private airplanes damaged but flyable, windows have light damage 1.0 psi Windows heavily damaged, wood frame houses lightly damaged 2 psi Human body thrown hard enough to cause incapcitating injuries 3 psi Human body thrown hard enough to cause 1% fatalities 5 psi Wood frame house collapse, 1% of eardrums rupture (elderly) 6 psi Human body thrown hard enough to cause 99% fatalities 7 psi Reinforced concrete houses lightly damaged 15 psi Minor injury to lungs from overpressure (1 ATM) 25 psi Reinforced concrete houses collapse Note most in-site blast shelters are typically 1 or 3 ATM designs. 1 ATM equals 15 psi. Downloaded From P-80 Systems.....