Preliminary estimation of the explosive mass based on the crater resulting from the surface explosion on asphalt

In the course of court trials and for the purpose of legal proceedings, forensic engineers often produce estimations of the explosive mass based on the explosion effect. For the preliminary estimation of the explosive mass one often uses empiric formulas. This paper describes experimental surface explosions of variable mass of known explosive charge on the asphalt with the objective to make correlations between causes and consequences of an explosion. Dimensions of the resulting craters were measured and an overview of experimental tests of five equations for calculating the mass of explosive based on the dimensions of the craters is given. The asphalt surfaces were chosen since the highest number of explosions, which are the results of terrorist or some other criminal acts, occur in urban conditions where asphalt is the dominant surface. Based on the given overview it is possible to give an evaluation of equation's reliability for certain explosive masses. The paper also includes a brief review of the facts related to the position of initiation and its influence the shape and dimensions of the crater

Modelling of Characteristics of a Crater Emerged from a Surface Explosion on the Soil

The paper presents empirical and numerical models of characteristics of a crater emerged from a surface explosion of a small TNT charge on the soil. The proposed models can be useful for estimation of the explosive mass based on the crater characteristics. The models show satisfactory fitting with the experimental results and confirm the hypothesis that the crater characteristics depend on the explosive mass and contact area between the charge and the soil surface. Two equations for estimation of the explosive mass based on the crater volume are proposed

Preliminary estimation of the explosive mass based on the crater resulting from the surface explosion on asphalt

In the course of court trials and for the purpose of legal proceedings, forensic engineers often produce estimations of the explosive mass based on the explosion effect. For the preliminary estimation of the explosive mass one often uses empiric formulas. This paper describes experimental surface explosions of variable mass of known explosive charge on the asphalt with the objective to make correlations between causes and consequences of an explosion. Dimensions of the resulting craters were measured and an overview of experimental tests of five equations for calculating the mass of explosive based on the dimensions of the craters is given. The asphalt surfaces were chosen since the highest number of explosions, which are the results of terrorist or some other criminal acts, occur in urban conditions where asphalt is the dominant surface. Based on the given overview it is possible to give an evaluation of equation's reliability for certain explosive masses. The paper also includes a brief review of the facts related to the position of initiation and its influence the shape and dimensions of the crater

Determination of detonation products equation of state from cylinder test: Analytical model and numerical analysis

Contemporary research in the field of explosive applications implies utilization of hydrocode simulations. Validity of these simulations strongly depends on parameters used in the equation of state for high explosives considered. A new analytical model for determination of Jones-Wilkins-Lee (JWL) equation of state parameters based on the cylinder test is proposed. The model relies on analysis of the metal cylinder expansion by detonation products. Available cylinder test data for five high explosives are used for the calculation of JWL parameters. Good agreement between results of the model and the literature data is observed, justifying the suggested analytical approach. Numerical finite element model of the cylinder test is created in Abaqus in order to validate the proposed model. Using the analytical model results as the input, it was shown that numerical simulation of the cylinder test accurately reproduces experimental results for all considered high explosives. Therefore, both the analytical method for calculation of JWL equation of state parameters and numerical Abaqus model of the cylinder test are validated. [Projekat Ministartsva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III-47029