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The Effects of Nuclear Weapons - Glasstone and Dolan Authoritative Military Reference on Atomic Explosions, Blast Damage, Radiation, Fallout, EMP, Biological, Radio and Radar Effects
For the first time in e-book format, here is the widely-acclaimed definitive standard reference book on nuclear weapons: the final, third edition of the authoritative Department of Defense text compiled by Samuel Glasstone and Philip Dolan. Every aspect of nuclear explosions is fully detailed - the immediate blast, thermal radiation, radioactivity and fallout, EMP, radio and radar effects, biological damage and the effect on people, plants, and animals, and much more. It includes the practical and scientific analysis of underground and atmospheric tests, as well as the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
Contents include: CHAPTER 1 -General Principles of Nuclear Explosions * Characteristics of Nuclear Explosions * Scientific Basis of Nuclear Explosions * CHAPTER 2 - Descriptions of Nuclear Explosions * Description of Air and Surface Bursts * Description of High-Altitude Bursts * Description of Underwater Bursts * Description of Underground Bursts * Scientific Aspects of Nuclear Explosion Phenomena * CHAPTER 3 - Air Blast Phenomena in Air and Surface Bursts * Characteristics of the Blast Wave in Air * Reflection of Blast Wave at a Surface * Modification of Air Blast Phenomena * Technical Aspects of Blast Wave Phenomena * CHAPTER 4 - Air Blast Loading * Interaction of Blast Wave with Structures * Interaction of Objects with Air Blast * CHAPTER 5 - Structural Damage from Air Blast * Factors Affecting Response * Commercial and Administrative Structures * Industrial Structures * Residential Structures * Transportation * Utilities * Miscellaneous Targets * Analysis of Damage from Air Blast * CHAPTER 6 - Shock Effects of Surface and Subsurface Bursts * Characteristics of Surface and Shallow Underground Bursts * Deep Underground Bursts * Damage to Structures * Characteristics of Underwater Bursts * Technical Aspects of Surface and Underground Bursts * Technical Aspects of Deep Underground Bursts * Buried Structures * Damage from Ground Shock * Technical Aspects of Underwater Bursts * CHAPTER 7 - Thermal Radiation and Its Effects * Radiation from the Fireball * Thermal Radiation Effects * Incendiary Effects * Incendiary Effects in Japan * Technical Aspects of Thermal Radiation * Radiant Exposure-Distance Relationships * CHAPTER 8 - Initial Nuclear Radiation * Nature of Nuclear Radiations * Gamma Rays * Neutrons * Transient-Radiation Effects on Electronics (TREE) * Technical Aspects of Initial Nuclear Radiation * CHAPTER 9 - Residual Nuclear Radiation and Fallout * Sources of Residual Radiation * Radioactive Contamination from Nuclear Explosions * Fallout Distribution in Land Surface Bursts * Attenuation of Residual Nuclear Radiation * Delayed Fallout * Technical Aspects of Residual Nuclear Radiation * CHAPTER 10 - Radio and Radar Effects * Atmospheric Ionization Phenomena * Effects on Radio and Radar Signals * Technical Aspects of Radio and Radar Effects * CHAPTER 11 - Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and its Effects * Origin and Nature of the EMP * EMP Damage and Protection * Theory of the EMP * CHAPTER 12 - Biological Effects * Blast Injuries * Burn Injuries * Nuclear Radiation Injury * Characteristics of Acute Whole-Body Radiation Injury * Combined Injuries * Late Effects of Ionizing Radiation * Effects of Early Fallout * Long-Term Hazard from Delayed Fallout * Genetic Effects of Nuclear Radiation * Pathology of Acute Radiation Injury * Blast-Related Effects * Effects on Farm Animals and Plants * Glossary.
The material is arranged in a manner that should permit the general reader to obtain a good understanding of the various topics without having to cope with the more technical details. Most chapters are thus in two parts: the first part is written at a fairly low technical level whereas the second treats some of the more technical and mathematical aspects. The presentation allows the reader to omit any or all of the latter sections without loss of continuity.
Contents include: CHAPTER 1 -General Principles of Nuclear Explosions * Characteristics of Nuclear Explosions * Scientific Basis of Nuclear Explosions * CHAPTER 2 - Descriptions of Nuclear Explosions * Description of Air and Surface Bursts * Description of High-Altitude Bursts * Description of Underwater Bursts * Description of Underground Bursts * Scientific Aspects of Nuclear Explosion Phenomena * CHAPTER 3 - Air Blast Phenomena in Air and Surface Bursts * Characteristics of the Blast Wave in Air * Reflection of Blast Wave at a Surface * Modification of Air Blast Phenomena * Technical Aspects of Blast Wave Phenomena * CHAPTER 4 - Air Blast Loading * Interaction of Blast Wave with Structures * Interaction of Objects with Air Blast * CHAPTER 5 - Structural Damage from Air Blast * Factors Affecting Response * Commercial and Administrative Structures * Industrial Structures * Residential Structures * Transportation * Utilities * Miscellaneous Targets * Analysis of Damage from Air Blast * CHAPTER 6 - Shock Effects of Surface and Subsurface Bursts * Characteristics of Surface and Shallow Underground Bursts * Deep Underground Bursts * Damage to Structures * Characteristics of Underwater Bursts * Technical Aspects of Surface and Underground Bursts * Technical Aspects of Deep Underground Bursts * Buried Structures * Damage from Ground Shock * Technical Aspects of Underwater Bursts * CHAPTER 7 - Thermal Radiation and Its Effects * Radiation from the Fireball * Thermal Radiation Effects * Incendiary Effects * Incendiary Effects in Japan * Technical Aspects of Thermal Radiation * Radiant Exposure-Distance Relationships * CHAPTER 8 - Initial Nuclear Radiation * Nature of Nuclear Radiations * Gamma Rays * Neutrons * Transient-Radiation Effects on Electronics (TREE) * Technical Aspects of Initial Nuclear Radiation * CHAPTER 9 - Residual Nuclear Radiation and Fallout * Sources of Residual Radiation * Radioactive Contamination from Nuclear Explosions * Fallout Distribution in Land Surface Bursts * Attenuation of Residual Nuclear Radiation * Delayed Fallout * Technical Aspects of Residual Nuclear Radiation * CHAPTER 10 - Radio and Radar Effects * Atmospheric Ionization Phenomena * Effects on Radio and Radar Signals * Technical Aspects of Radio and Radar Effects * CHAPTER 11 - Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and its Effects * Origin and Nature of the EMP * EMP Damage and Protection * Theory of the EMP * CHAPTER 12 - Biological Effects * Blast Injuries * Burn Injuries * Nuclear Radiation Injury * Characteristics of Acute Whole-Body Radiation Injury * Combined Injuries * Late Effects of Ionizing Radiation * Effects of Early Fallout * Long-Term Hazard from Delayed Fallout * Genetic Effects of Nuclear Radiation * Pathology of Acute Radiation Injury * Blast-Related Effects * Effects on Farm Animals and Plants * Glossary.
The material is arranged in a manner that should permit the general reader to obtain a good understanding of the various topics without having to cope with the more technical details. Most chapters are thus in two parts: the first part is written at a fairly low technical level whereas the second treats some of the more technical and mathematical aspects. The presentation allows the reader to omit any or all of the latter sections without loss of continuity.
752 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2021
Reread. Now a staple of my new office.
February 24, 2011
Amazon third-party, 2009-04-28. I finally found a reasonably-priced ($27.95 + $3.99 shipping, w00t) copy of this classic, a crappy text file and then PDF of which I've suffered through this last decade. Hands down the best (if dated) unlimited-distribution guide to first- and second-generation nuclear weapon physics, with only Bridgman's restricted-distribution Introduction to the Physics of Nuclear Weapons Effects (no GoodReads links, but that's what restricted distribution gets you -- ASIN B0006S2HWK, no ISBN) and various classified compendiums (no titles, but that's what classification gets you :D) being superior.
May 5, 2019
This is a very clear book. It's written so that even if one is not very familiar with mathematics, one can learn the basics. But it still has sections that cover more mathematically sophisticated analysis. I wish that there was a bit more explanation of some of the formulas (that is derivations), but there is also a lot of information that is simply empirical from tests.
The book covers the effects of nuclear weapons, so do not expect any details on how exactly a nuclear weapon works. However, it covers the effects quite well. It goes over effects from the blast wave, the thermal radiation, and the nuclear radiation systematically. This includes looking at what sort of damage can be caused to existing infrastructure and to people.
I do wish it used SI, but its use of a mix of metric and English units is understandable given what the book is for. Other than that, it is a quite straightforward but enlightening read on what happens when nuclear weapons explode.
The book covers the effects of nuclear weapons, so do not expect any details on how exactly a nuclear weapon works. However, it covers the effects quite well. It goes over effects from the blast wave, the thermal radiation, and the nuclear radiation systematically. This includes looking at what sort of damage can be caused to existing infrastructure and to people.
I do wish it used SI, but its use of a mix of metric and English units is understandable given what the book is for. Other than that, it is a quite straightforward but enlightening read on what happens when nuclear weapons explode.
November 1, 2022
This is what this book is:
“Table 12.46
PROBABILITIES OF GLASS FRAGMENTS PENETRATING ABDOMINAL WALL”
“12.50 Evaluation of human tolerance to decelerative tumbling during translation in open terrain is more difficult than for impact against a rigid surface described above.”
“LARGE DOSE (OVER 1,000 REMS):
SURVIVAL IMPROBABLE
12.122 Very large doses of whole-body radiation (approximately 5,000 rems or more) result in prompt changes in the central nervous system. The symptoms are hyperexcitability, ataxia (lack of muscular coordination), respiratory distress, and intermittent stupor. There is almost immediate incapacitation for most people, and death is certain in a few hours to a week or so after the acute exposure.”
The idea that this book has to exist is horrifying and is probably evidence that our species is doomed.
“Table 12.46
PROBABILITIES OF GLASS FRAGMENTS PENETRATING ABDOMINAL WALL”
“12.50 Evaluation of human tolerance to decelerative tumbling during translation in open terrain is more difficult than for impact against a rigid surface described above.”
“LARGE DOSE (OVER 1,000 REMS):
SURVIVAL IMPROBABLE
12.122 Very large doses of whole-body radiation (approximately 5,000 rems or more) result in prompt changes in the central nervous system. The symptoms are hyperexcitability, ataxia (lack of muscular coordination), respiratory distress, and intermittent stupor. There is almost immediate incapacitation for most people, and death is certain in a few hours to a week or so after the acute exposure.”
The idea that this book has to exist is horrifying and is probably evidence that our species is doomed.
September 29, 2017
A beast of a book that's highly technical at times. I had to skip the optional math heavy supplements of some chapters but still got the gist of them. Definitely worth the effort to read.
June 14, 2021
Great treatment of this niche topic.
May 19, 2013
This book was recommended to me by a nuclear engineering professor at Oregon State University. While other books on the subject give you pasteurized and digested view of the topic, this one presents the theory and studies that drive our conclusions about the effects of nuclear weapons. The 1977 edition (and perhaps others) comes with the "Nuclear Bomb Effects Computer" attached to the back cover--a stack of rotating paper disks for computing blast craters, thermal energy, etc.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews