This is a proposal to investigate the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of Vented Suppressive Shields (VSS) as a means of reducing the noise levels resulting from explosive operations and/or munitions testing. VSS is designed to reduce the external blast overpressure, from an explosive operation, to a human tolerable level. A human tolerable level is defined as being that which will not cause eardrum damage at a distance of 2 meters. In order to provide this protection the external blast overpressure must be reduced to 2.3 p.s.i. or lower. Since there is direct relationship between blast overpressure and sound level (db), reduction of external overpressure also results in sound level reduction. In Phase I, VSS enclosure concepts and designs will be developed to reduce the external sound level by a 20 db goal, from explosive operations and/or munitions testing. Information from prior tested designs, and calculations for specific requirements will be applied. VSS enclosures, in addition to blast overpressure reduction, suppress and contain fragments and thermal hazards.
Benefits: 1. Time and cost of ammunition and explosives testing will be reduced by more efficient use of existing test areas. 2. Suppression of hazards and sound level will increase operating personnel safety and efficiency. 3. Control of sound levels in test areas, will reduce the complaints from communities in the vicinity of the government installation. 4. There is a potential for both commercial and government use in testing explosives and ammunition.
