Acoustics Examination of Kappa West Firing ARMAG for Personnel Occupancy
In April of 2023, LANL conducted a series of explosive tests at the Kappa West firing mound at BEEF, NNSS, to examine noise levels within the diagnostics ARMAG next to the firing mound. The intent was to establish an explosive mass that could be detonated on the mound without generating blast noise inside the ARMAG which would be unsafe for personnel. The blast noise threshold for personnel safety during intentional firing operations is 140 dB. Based on data collected during prior experiments, it was anticipated that the noise levels inside the ARMAG would be 20-30 dB lower than noise levels outside the ARMAG. However, data from prior experiments were collected from charges that were not consistent geometries and test layouts, so it was unknown what quantity of explosive would generate the threshold noise level. A prediction was made using the BEC-O standard blast calculator from the DDESB, from which it was estimated that a single, consolidated 60-pound charge at 180 feet would generate blast noise levels of about 170 dB, with noise levels falling to a predicted 166 dB at 250 feet.