scope:

INTRODUCTION.

This document is intended to assist NATO planners, designers, and analysts in assessing the need for, developing, and evaluating military vehicles with substantially improved protection from all sources of nuclear radiation at minimal weight and cost penalties. Although this document is comprehensive enough to stand alone, it anticipates that users will seek help from radiation experts when additional detail is required.

After discussing basic philosophy, this document describes the selection and arrangement of suitable shielding materials, the impact of critical design features on shielding effectiveness, the importance of proper protection and location of sensors and other electronics inside the vehicle, and analytical techniques for calculating vehicle protection characteristics. Finally, the document provides guidance on test and evaluation procedures to verify engineering results. Figures 1-1 and 1-2 flowchart the process of designing nuclear radiation protection into new vehicles, and improving that already in existing vehicles, respectively. Each process block in the flowcharts is keyed to specific chapters in this document that provide guidelines necessary to carry out the process.

These guidelines were derived from significant results of research carried out by the laboratories of five NATO nations, much of it collaborative in nature. Although this document contains the best and most recent data, the research area continues to expand. Accordingly, this document will be updated at periodic intervals.