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Blow Stuff Up, Indoors

Posted by timothy on from the quick-and-painless dept.

marmaluke writes: "Check out this story at Techtv.com. They built an explosion containment facility at Lawrence Livermore Lab that can take a punch and won't wake up the neighbors. They are going to use it for 'assessing the performance of the non-nuclear, or "primary," component in stockpiled nuclear weapons.' I just think it would be cool to have a little room to blow stuff up in! Anyone got any old PCs that you just don't know what to do with?" Also sounds like a good Dr. No / Dr. Evil unseen-extermination chamber.

4 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. It seems pretty cool, but... by greesil · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The place sounds nify, but one has to wonder at the cost effectiveness of this place. I mean sure, the tests aren't subject to the vagaries of weather, but how much did it cost to build?

    "Never freighten a little man, he'll kill you" -Lazarus Long

  2. hrm by dbolger · · Score: 3, Funny
    Hrm...a room that can take severe explosions and not wake up the neighbors? in my house we call that the toilet ;)

    I know. I'm sorry.

  3. Re:Getting paid to break things by Kingfox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hell yeah. Blowing things up can always be a fun job.

    A friend of mine works at a nearby arsenal, and every so often has to blow things up under the guise of getting rid of old stockpiles. They've actually got a few rooms like the one described in the article set up. Plenty of ordinances from the fifties or so that are past their expiration date get shoved into such a room, set off, and cleaned up.

    While my friend finds his job tedious, it is a great job to impress his nephews. "Uncle Chris blows crap up all day at work!"

  4. More info by diegoq · · Score: 4, Informative
    See LLNL's website for more details.

    Interesting that they've gone for a cheaper, more conventional construction. They used conventional reinforced concrete and a rectangular building, over the more blast-efficient spherical shape using layered concrete. They are using mild steel over armour plate to halve the cost, yet maintain 85% penetration resistance.

    Also, the "of the various blast attenuation systems studied, the least expensive one, a rubber doormat-type material, proved to be the only acceptable option."

    Now, do they accept on-line ordering?

    --
    --Tim