Nuclear Blast Response of Airbreathing Propulsion Systems: Laboratory Measurements With an Operational J-85-5 Turbojet Engine

This paper describes an experimental technique that has been developed for the performance of controlled laboratory measurements of the nuclear blast response of airbreathing propulsion systems. The experiments utilize an available G.E. J-85-5 turbojet engine located in the test section of the Calspan Ludwieg-tube facility. Significant modifications, described herein, were made to this facility in order to adapt it to the desired configuration. The J-85 engine had previously been used at Calspan for other purposes and thus came equipped with eight pressure transducers at four axial locations along the compressor section. These transducers have a frequency response on the order of 40 KHz. Pressure histories obtained at several circumferential and axial locations along the compressor are presented for blast-wave equivalent overpressures up to 17.2 kPa (2.5 psi) at corrected engine speeds on the order of 94 percent of maximum speed.