3.7 Test and Simulation Technology (Nuclear)
These technology development efforts respond to Presidential Decision Directive 15 and other national and department direction by providing the capabilities needed to validate military system performance in nuclear and related weapon environments. In the absence of underground tests and without the ability to simulate nuclear weapons effects, there can be little confidence in the ability of military systems to operate in such environments. Sustainment of DoD strategic capabilities requires test and simulation technology to ensure end-to-end confidence in critical delivery and C31 systems.
3.7.2.1 Goals and Timeframes. The goals of the test and simulation technology subarea are as follows:
3.7.2.2 Major Technical Challenges. Given termination of underground nuclear tests, there are significant shortfalls in simulator fidelity and with respect to the size of objects that can be tested. Due to funding constraints, investment in new, potentially more cost-effective simulation technologies has been curtailed. This effort focuses on consolidation of existing facilities, completion of ongoing development efforts, and incremental improvements to in-place capabilities.
In blast/thermal simulation, a near-term priority is responding to Army requirements by adapting LB/TS to simulate nonideal airblast effects. Once this is done, the limits of existing technology will have been reached. Improvements are needed in blast venting and cryogenic gas systems to significantly reduce the operating cost of the LB/TS. Unmet requirements include improved high-temperature, high-flux thermal sources and the ability to simulate a wider range of blast phenomenologies.
For radiation simulation, there are major shortfalls in capabilities for testing full-size systems or subsystems against all types of X-rays. With the underground testing moratorium, the ability to test the response of materials, optics, and structures to the cold portion (under 40 keV) of the X-ray threat has been severely curtailed. Plasma radiation sources implemented on existing simulators are attempting to fill this gap. At present, available debris-free fluence areas are approximately 5 cal/cm2. Investigation of innovative and efficient cold X-ray sources with ten times larger debris-free fluences and better fidelity continues. DECADE will provide the capability to test the response of small systems to hot X-rays (>40 keV). DECADE will be constructed in phases. The first phase (DECADE Quad) will provide a 20,000-rad dose over 2,500 cm2, providing a 400% increase in performance over current hot X-ray simulators. Improvements are needed in cold X-ray plasma radiation source fidelity and stability, debris shields to provide high-fidelity test environments for plasma sources, reliability and repeatability of plasma switches used in radiation simulators, synchronous use of modular pulsed power devices, and diagnostics that can function in the harsh environments produced by X-ray simulators.
Underground testing readiness is being accomplished through the combination of a bare-bones investment in test site infrastructure and development of a reconstitution plan showing what must be done to reconstitute a test capability if this is directed by national authorities at some point in the future.
3.7.2.3 Related Federal and Private Sector Efforts S&T planning specifically considers the use of DOE simulators to respond to DoD requirements. DOE plans and development efforts that, if successful, might respond to DoD needs are being monitored (e.g., the National Ignition Facility and Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship programs). Significant opportunities for technology transfer to the private sector are associated with some of the technologies in this subarea, including high-energy density capacitors (medical, radar, and commercial power system applications), flash X-ray technology (food processing sterilization), and X-ray modeling and source development (higher resolution, lower exposure, diagnostics).
3.7.3.1 Technology Development. All of the activities in the test and simulation technology subarea involve technology development; there are no basic research or technology demonstrations.
Blast/Thermal Simulation. LB/TS provides a new, repeatable capability. Programmed enhancements for nonideal airblast simulation respond to Army requirements.
Radiation Simulation. With major inputs from a reliance task force, the DoD nuclear effects simulator suite is being consolidated. This includes transfer and reuse of debris mitigation schemes, cryogenics, and other capabilities to the simulation facilities that are to be retained. New switching technologies for pulsed power sources will be evaluated.
Underground Testing Readiness. In line with national direction, a bare-bones capability for resumption of testing is being sustained at the Nevada Test Site.
