These technology development efforts respond to Presidential Decision Direction 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 military systems being able to operate in such environments. Stockpile stewardship requires test and simulation technology to ensure end-to-end confidence in critical delivery and C3I systems.
3.7.2 Test And Simulation Technology Overview
3.7.2.1 Goals and Timeframes. By FY96, have an IOC for the Large Blast/Thermal Simulator (LB/TS); and complete the DECADE technology assessment. By FY97, provide non-ideal simulation capability at LB/TS; and complete simulator close-outs at the Army Research Lab (Aurora simulator) and Maxwell Laboratory (Blackjack 5, Blackjack 3/3, and Modular Brehmstralung simulators) facilities. By FY98, have IOC for the first quadrant of the DECADE radiation simulator (assuming favorable FY96 decision); and have a decision on a plasma radiation source approach or an alternative simulator. BY FY99, complete performance verification for debris shield in radiation simulators. By FY00, complete the simulator consolidation. By FY01, assess the viability of DOE X-ray sources for nuclear weapons effects simulation.
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. 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 to respond to Army requirements by adapting LB/TS to simulate non-ideal airblast effects. Once this is done, the limits of existing technology will have been reached. 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 UGT moratorium, the ability to test the response of materials, optics, and structures to the cool 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. 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 probably be constructed in phases. The first phase (“DECADE Quad”) will provide a 20,000 Rad Dose over 2500 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, the 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.
UGT readiness is being accomplished through the combination of a bare-bones investment in test site infrastructure and development of a detailed model 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. Planning gives explicit consideration to options for 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 Test And Simulation Technology S&T Investment Strategy
3.7.3.1 Technology Development. All of the activities in this subarea involve technology development; there are no basic research or ATD/ACTD technology demonstrations.
Blast/Thermal Simulation: LB/TS provides a new, repeatable, capability. Programmed enhancements for non-ideal airblast simulation respond to Army requirements.
Radiation Simulation: A near-term decision is anticipated for the initial quadrant of the DECADE radiation simulator. 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.
UGT Readiness: A minimal capability is being retained
at the Nevada Test Site. Effort is underway on documentation
and on development of a model providing the information needed
for test activity reconstitution.