Nuke Blast Simulator

Data Sources & References

Scientific Foundation

Our simulator is built on decades of scientific research, declassified government studies, and peer-reviewed academic literature. All sources are publicly available and unclassified.

Primary Authoritative Sources

📖 "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons" (3rd Edition, 1977)

Authors: Samuel Glasstone & Philip J. Dolan
Publisher: U.S. Department of Defense & Department of Energy
Status: Declassified, public domain

The definitive reference on nuclear weapons effects, based on extensive testing data from 1945-1962. Forms the foundation for our blast radius calculations.

Key Formulas Used:

  • Fireball radius scaling laws
  • Overpressure vs. distance relationships
  • Thermal radiation energy distribution
  • Nuclear radiation dose calculations
  • Fallout pattern modeling

Citation: Glasstone, S., & Dolan, P. J. (1977). The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (3rd ed.). United States Department of Defense and Department of Energy.

🏛️ Defense Nuclear Agency Publications

Declassified technical reports from U.S. nuclear testing programs, including Operation Crossroads, Operation Ivy, and atmospheric test series.

Key Reports:

  • DNA-EM-1 "Capabilities of Nuclear Weapons"
  • DNA-EM-2 "Effects of Nuclear Weapons on Electronic Systems"
  • DASA-1251 "Nuclear Weapon Test Effects"

Data Contributions:

  • Blast pressure measurements from actual tests
  • Thermal radiation energy recordings
  • Nuclear radiation dose mapping
  • Structural damage assessments
  • Electromagnetic pulse characteristics

🏥 Medical and Biological Effects Studies

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Research:

  • Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) studies
  • Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF)
  • Japanese National Peace Memorial Halls
  • Medical records from 1945-present

International Medical Studies:

  • WHO radiation health assessments
  • IAEA nuclear accident analyses
  • International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
  • National Academy of Sciences BEIR reports

Government & Military Sources

🇺🇸 United States

  • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Sandia National Laboratories
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory

🇷🇺 Russia (Declassified Soviet)

  • Russian Federal Nuclear Center
  • Kurchatov Institute publications
  • Declassified Soviet test data
  • Post-Cold War scientific cooperation
  • Atmospheric test documentation
  • Semipalatinsk Test Site records
  • Novaya Zemlya test series data

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

  • Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)
  • UK National Archives
  • Operation Hurricane documentation
  • Christmas Island test records
  • Monte Bello Islands data
  • Royal Navy nuclear testing reports

🇫🇷 France

  • Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA)
  • French Ministry of Defense archives
  • Sahara atmospheric test data
  • Pacific test series documentation
  • Mururoa Atoll studies

🇨🇳 China

  • China Academy of Engineering Physics
  • Lop Nur test site documentation
  • Scientific publications from CAEP
  • International cooperation data
  • Atmospheric test records (1964-1980)

🌐 International

  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization
  • UN Scientific Committee (UNSCEAR)
  • International monitoring networks
  • Nuclear accident investigation reports

Academic & Research Institutions

🎓 Universities & Research Centers

Nuclear Policy Research:

  • Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation
  • Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center
  • Georgetown Security Studies Program
  • Middlebury Institute (James Martin Center)
  • Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
  • University of Chicago Harris School

Scientific Research:

  • MIT Nuclear Science and Engineering
  • UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering
  • University of Michigan Nuclear Engineering
  • Georgia Tech Nuclear and Radiological Engineering
  • Penn State Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

📊 Independent Research Organizations

Policy Analysis:

  • Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
  • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
  • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  • Brookings Institution
  • RAND Corporation
  • Arms Control Association

Scientific Analysis:

  • Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
  • Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
  • International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature

📑 Key Scientific Journals

Nuclear Science & Engineering:

  • Nuclear Science and Engineering
  • Nuclear Technology
  • Health Physics
  • Radiation Research
  • Journal of Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Engineering and Design

Policy & Security Studies:

  • International Security
  • Security Studies
  • Survival: Global Politics and Strategy
  • Nonproliferation Review
  • Contemporary Security Policy
  • Global Governance

📈 Foundational Research Papers

Scaling Laws for Nuclear Weapons:

Sedov, L. I. (1959). "Similarity and Dimensional Methods in Mechanics" - Foundation for blast scaling relationships

Thermal Radiation Effects:

Broido, A. & McAlister, A. J. (1965). "Thermal radiation from nuclear detonations in urban environments"

Nuclear Radiation Dose:

Evans, R. D. (1955). "The Atomic Nucleus" - Fundamental radiation physics and dose calculations

Fallout Modeling:

List, R. J. (1963). "Smithsonian Meteorological Tables" - Atmospheric dispersion modeling

Blast Wave Physics:

Brode, H. L. (1955). "Numerical solutions of spherical blast waves" - RAND Corporation technical reports

Historical Nuclear Test Data

🧪 Critical Test Series

U.S. Atmospheric Tests (1945-1962):

  • Trinity (1945): First plutonium implosion device
  • Operation Crossroads (1946): Bikini Atoll underwater/air burst tests
  • Operation Sandstone (1948): Improved fission designs
  • Operation Greenhouse (1951): Thermonuclear principles
  • Operation Ivy (1952): First full-scale hydrogen bomb
  • Operation Castle (1954): Deliverable H-bomb designs
  • Operation Redwing (1956): Clean/dirty bomb studies

Soviet Test Series:

  • RDS-1 (1949): First Soviet nuclear test
  • RDS-37 (1955): First Soviet hydrogen bomb
  • Tsar Bomba (1961): Largest nuclear test ever

📊 Measurement Techniques

Instrumentation:

  • Pressure gauges and blast meters
  • Thermal radiation detectors
  • Nuclear radiation dosimeters
  • High-speed photography
  • Seismic monitoring equipment
  • Electromagnetic pulse sensors

Test Structures:

  • Reinforced concrete bunkers
  • Residential building mockups
  • Military vehicle placements
  • Animal exposure studies
  • Agricultural crop testing
  • Communication equipment arrays

Verification & Validation

✅ Cross-Validation Methods

Historical Comparison:

  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki damage patterns
  • Nevada Test Site measurements
  • Pacific Proving Grounds data
  • Bikini Atoll test results
  • Christmas Island test documentation

Modern Simulation:

  • Computer modeling validation
  • Hydrodynamic code verification
  • Monte Carlo radiation transport
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Finite element analysis

🔍 Uncertainty Analysis

Known Limitations: Our calculations include inherent uncertainties due to:

  • Terrain effects: Hills, valleys, and urban canyons modify blast patterns
  • Weather conditions: Wind, humidity, and temperature affect thermal radiation
  • Atmospheric pressure: Altitude and barometric pressure influence blast waves
  • Weapon design variations: Efficiency and design details affect yield distribution
  • Measurement precision: Historical test data has inherent measurement errors

Confidence Intervals: Most calculations have ±20-30% uncertainty bands, consistent with the precision of historical nuclear test data.

Data Access & Reproducibility

🔓 Open Access Resources

All primary sources used in our calculations are publicly available:

  • Internet Archive: Historical government documents
  • Google Scholar: Peer-reviewed scientific papers
  • OSTI (Office of Scientific and Technical Information): DOE reports
  • National Archives: Declassified military documents
  • IAEA Publications: International standards and data
  • University libraries: Academic research databases

🔬 Reproducible Science

Our methodology promotes scientific reproducibility:

  • Open formulas: All equations publicly documented
  • Clear citations: Full bibliographic references provided
  • Transparent assumptions: Limitations clearly stated
  • Independent verification: Results comparable to other tools
  • Educational focus: Promotes scientific literacy

Researchers and educators are encouraged to verify our methodology using the same sources.

Academic Collaboration

Research & Educational Partnerships

We welcome collaboration with researchers, educators, and institutions working on nuclear policy, security studies, and peace education.

For Researchers:

  • Access to detailed calculation methodologies
  • Collaboration on model improvements
  • Data sharing for validation studies
  • Joint publication opportunities

For Educators:

  • Curriculum integration support
  • Classroom demonstration materials
  • Student research project guidance
  • Peace education resources

📧 info@nukeblastsimulator.com

Academic inquiries welcome • Scientific integrity • Educational mission