Alternatives for the Demilitarization of Conventional Munitions (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780309477321)

The U.S. military has a stockpile of approximately 400,000 tons of excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions. About 60,000 tons are added to the stockpile each year. Munitions include projectiles, bombs, rockets, landmines, and missiles. Open burning/open detonation (OB/OD) of these munitions has been a common disposal practice for decades, although it has decreased significantly since 2011.

OB/OD is relatively quick, procedurally straightforward, and inexpensive. However, the downside of OB and OD is that they release contaminants from the operation directly into the environment. Over time, a number of technology alternatives to OB/OD have become available and more are in research and development. Alternative technologies generally involve some type of contained destruction of the energetic materials, including contained burning or contained detonation as well as contained methods that forego combustion or detonation.

Alternatives for the Demilitarization of Conventional Munitions reviews the current conventional munitions demilitarization stockpile and analyzes existing and emerging disposal, treatment, and reuse technologies. This report identifies and evaluates any barriers to full-scale deployment of alternatives to OB/OD or non-closed loop incineration/combustion, and provides recommendations to overcome such barriers.

Author: National Academies of Sciences Engineeri,Division on Engineering and Physical Sci,Board on Army Science and Technology
ISBN-10: 0309477328
ISBN-13: 9780309477321
Publisher: National Academies Press
Language: English
Published: 02/11/2019
Pages: 132
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 10.90h x 8.40w x 0.40d