Theory of Explosives

1. Theory of Explosives C3 Slide 1

2. “Explosives”: A Definition An explosive is a substance that when initiated, exerts a sudden and intense pressure on its surroundings, by the rapid formation of large quantities of gas.

3. Products of an Explosion • Noise • Heat/Flash • Blast/Shockwave • And, depending on if there is another material involved: Projectiles/Fragments

4. Chemical Composition of an Explosive • Explosives need two fundamental components: • Fuel = something that releases energy • Oxidiser = something to sustain the release of energy

5. Sensitivity v Sensitiveness • Sensitivity: How responsive an explosive material is to an INTENTIONAL stimulus • Sensitiveness: How responsive an explosive material is to an UNINTENTIONALstimulus A firing pin hitting a percussion cap on a cartridge case for rifle ammunition A fork lift truck fork piercing an artillery shell cartridge case

6. Effects of Containing Explosives • Containing an explosive creates a more significant explosion (greater power = pressure) • Within the container: pressure increases, so temperature increases, which results in an increase in pressure = a reciprocal effect • This lasts milliseconds but is still significant • ‘Contained’ explosion will usually be significantly more powerful than an uncontained one

7. Types of Explosive Low Explosive High Explosive An explosion is a chemical reaction between appropriate materials which results in the sudden release of heat, noise, and pressure The difference is simply how that chemical reaction occurs

8. Types of Explosive Low Explosives Deflagrate (they burn, although very rapidly) High Explosives Detonate (this is a change to the molecular structure and happens instantly, rather than ‘burning’)

9. Low Explosives • “Deflagration” – very rapid burning • The burning takes place along a surface The rate of deflagration is determined by : • Surface area • Material density • The surrounding pressure Gunpowder is a low explosive material A type of ammunition containing a low explosive is burning fuze

10. High Explosives • A supersonic shockwave which travels through the material • The “Velocity of Detonation” (VOD) Detonation rate is not determined by material density, surface area or outside pressure Detonators contain a pea-sized amount of high explosive. This metal ammo box had a single detonator inside it.

11. High Explosive Brisance • High Explosives produce an effect upon adjacent metal • “Brisance” - shatters the metal • In grenades, artillery shells and mortar bombs this is used to produce fragmentation • This does not happen with low explosives

12. The Explosive Train A method of initiating an explosive “main charge” using a sequential assembly of explosive components

13. The Explosive Train – An Analogy Think of how you start a barbeque: You don’t hold a match to the charcoal …you use a match to a firelighter… …and the firelighter to the charcoal This is a more efficient transfer of energy from a small volatile and short lived device, to something that holds and ‘boosts’ the energy of the match, into something that is difficult to light but, once lit, delivers the desired result

14. The Explosive Train The explosive train is the same: It takes a small, highly sensitive explosive (so sensitive you wouldn’t want a large quantity or it as this would be potentially highly risky)… …to transmit its energy into a booster that magnifies this power… …which in turn is sufficient to initiate a main charge

15. The Explosive Train Detonator Detonating cord High explosive main charge, eg Semtex

16. Examples of Initiators For high explosives: a detonator For low explosives: a match

17. Examples of Boosters For high explosives: detonating cord For low explosives: burning fuze

18. Examples of Main Charges For high explosives: PE4 (Plastic Explosive Number 4) For low explosives: Gunpowder (eg in noise simulators)

19. Blast and Shock Blast wave: an area of pressure expanding supersonically outward from an explosive core Explosive material Area of high pressure expanding outward

20. Blast and Shock In our context, it is an area of highly increased air pressure which moves outward Explosive material Area of high pressure expanding outward

21. Shock Front • The “shock front” (or shock wave) is the leading edge of the area of expanding pressure • It is made up of rapidly expanding gases • Behind the shock front is an area of negative pressure • As blast effect emanates out from an explosive, it has a shock front of highly increased pressure followed by a wave of negative pressure

22. The Pressure-Time Curve Pressure (P) Pmax Pambient Pmin Time Positive Phase Duration Arrival Time Negative Phase Duration

23. Impulse • The area under the curve shows the “impulse” • The impulse largely determines the extent of damage caused by the blast • A bigger/longer impulse (ie area under the graph) will cause more damage • For example, ‘Volumetric’ (or fuel/air) explosives prolong the explosion and development of blast, which increases/prolongs the impulse, to create more damage to structures.

24. The Effects of Blast Moves faster than the speed of sound Lasts only a few milliseconds at each point along its path • High pressure ‘shock front’ • Area of low ‘wind’ behind it • Blast interacts with physical material • Projected by blast at high velocity (and energy) • Projectiles/fragmentation Broken glass is a significant cause of injuries in bomb attacks in urban areas

25. The Effects of Blast Lagos, Nigeria, 2002

26. Pressure Impulse Curves • “P-I Curves” • Graph showing impulse against pressure • Curve shows susceptibility of a given structure to pressure and impulse MORE DAMAGE Impulse – sensitive region Curve of constant damage Peak Pressure Dynamically – Sensitive Region Pressure – sensitive region LESS DAMAGE Impulse

27. Questions? C3 Slide 28