The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25

Experiments 60 Deterruine chs Erect OF Sub
marine ESptosiou. of Gus Cotton.

rarIne Explosions or Gun Cotton.
wAsHINaroN, Nov. a4.-For several months
the Navy Department has been making expert
ments at the torpedo station at Newport for de-
termining the effect OF a submarine explosion OF
gun cotton on animal life. and In o report re-
ccived IL is shown that in but few cases were
the animals disturbed by the explosion. A shell
Of an old boat was used for the purpose Of tho
test, and in this were placed n number Of ami
mails. including pigeons, cats, rabbits, and
chickens. The submergcnce In each case
was the same for both mine and
boat, fifteen feet. The boat was moored
In from eight 10 seven and n half fathoms
In the different experiments; the mine
in from seven to seven and a half fathoms. The
mine was always as nearly abeam OF the sub
merged boat as the varying wind and current
would permit. In the fifth experiment, distance
15C feet, the mine was broad on the bow OF the
boat. In no other case did the bearing vary
much from abeam.
Dupont gun cotton was used In the first four
experiments. In the last of these, for some rca-
son unexplained, there was not n perfect detona-
ton. Nitrous fumes rose with the disturbed
water. which was much less In volume than In
the other explosions, and the shock was very
slight. II was decided to repeat the experiment
at this distance. Torpedo station gun cotton
wa, used in the last three explosions,
WHICH WtEe - HtdElg ptliNN1 " iV
sible, each one seeming to be, in shock
and amount CT water thrown up, n
little In excess ri its predecessor. by
using a 32-foot launch md heavy sings II was
mi 20 float the shell even In case OF
collapse. The arrangement. moreover, proved n
simple means of handling and submcrging the
boat. The weights, hanging by lines. were ID
inch spherical shells. weighing each, with its
spindle and ring, about 225 pounds. The buoy
ancy of the boat. with these weights removed,
was 500 pounds; with the weights banging
there was n negative buoyancy of 400 pounds.
The bands on the outside Of the boat added
about 2Cj pounds to the weight.
The second experiment was made on the west
side of the island. eco feet from the new gun
Gotten factory. Charge in mine. S0.7 pounds
tdry weight Dupont gun cotton. Distance from
boat to mine, 3O5 feet. Calculated pressure, 81
pounds per square inch. This was the estimated
collapsing strength of the bow under sustained
pressure. Boat In 4 fathoms. mine in tathoms;
submergence, 10 feet, both mine and boat. The
explosion was good. There was no injury TO
the boat or animals.
day. The only change was in the distance be-
tween mine and boat, which was reduced to 200
feet. The calculated pressure was l4i pounds
per square inch. The explosion was good. There
was no injury to boat or animals.
dnced to $50 feet, at which the calculated
explosion WINS not good; defamation apparently
incomplete. as before stated. There was no In
jury to boat or animals.
The fifth experiment was q repetition of the
last, except that torpedo station gun cotton was
used. The mine in this case bore broad on the
starboard bow Of the submerged boat: The ex,
plosion was highly, successful. There was no
injury to boat or animals.
In the sixth experiment. boat and mine were
each In ~ fathOms of water. The distance was
100 feet. at which the calculated pressure was
1877 pounds per square inch. The explosion
was. IL anything, more severe than the proceed
insr Tlar.h a. a NJ. Al urN I'm hnnf nr animals.
The seventh experiment was made the same
day. All the conditions were the same, except
that the mine was now, on account OF wind and
tide, on the port side 2 the boat ana the diso
was 52s pounds per square inch. the explosion
was the severest OF the series. q,
When the boat was raised the shell was found
TO be depressed in n number of places. No leaks
were developed. The animals were entirely I'M
hurt, but were well spattered with the half inch
or so of rather dirty water that was in the boat
during ai th esP srIt SmIs head aae Contained "p ! y rhpbit
and u chicken. They were probably on the
planking covering the ballast. which was dry
before the explosion. The middle compartment
contained two pigeons. They were In an open
box, with slat cover. resting on wooden battens
between the bulkheads.
The after compartment contained n large cat
that had been running wild before caught. The
idea was To have rs great u difference VI vitality
In the animals as possible in order to give the
margin within which the stronger animals
might have survived. Notwithstanding the kill
The great excess OF the reforming pressure
over the estimated collapslng strength of the
shell is explained by the marked difference in
effect of an instantaneous pressure and a con.
tinuously Sustained pressure. Numerically equal
static and dynamic Iiressures. as determined by
the compression Of copper disks. may exert very
is taken of the time and space through which
the force must act before reformation occurs.