Radiological and toxicological assessment of an external heat (burn) test of the 105MM cartridge, APFSDS-T, XM-744

Abstract

This repon was prepared 3s an account of work sponsored by the Unired 5tates Government. Neither the Uniied States nor the Depanment d Energ)', nor any of heir employ-, nor any of their contractors. subcontractors, or their employeer. makes any warranty. express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or reponsibiliry for the accuracy, completeness or uwfulnmr of any ~nformation, apparatus, p d u a or process disclosed, or represents thar its use would not intrrnge pr~vately owned rights. The views. opinions and conclusions con:ained in tnr* report are :hose of the contractor and do aot necessattly represent thme or the Cnited States Government or the United States Department of Energy PACIFIC Y ORTHVIEST LABORATORY upem red by BAl-rELLE for the UNlTED STATES DEP4RTMENT OF E;.IE2GY Under Con traci f Y-76-C-06-1830 Prlnred .r, the Un~ted 51are5 or *mer~ca 4vailable '-om V~r r n n a l F~h r r l c i l Informarlor* Serv~cc Lnlred 5 a l t r Qeparrment at Commerce 5285 Port Row! Road Sprlng!~eld, Virg~n~a 12151 RADIOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF AN EXTERNAL HEAT (BURN) TEST OF THE 105 mm CARTRIDGE, APFSDS-Ty XM-PI4 7;/q

Hazard classification test of the cartridge, 120-mm, APFSDS-T, XM829

“…Previous experience in the burning and fragmentation of XM774 depleted uranium ammunition indicated that envelopement in a hot fire would not result in an airborne release of a depleted uranium aerosol . In particular, the external heat test performed on the XM774 ammunition in October 1977 at Frenchman Flat, resul t ed in the cartridges being blown clear of the fire by propellant ignition , before oxidation could occur (Gilchrist, Parker, Mishima 1978) . A factor that appeared to be critical for the XM774 ammunition to be blown clear of the fire was the design of the cartridge case .…”