Blast Wave Parameters of Liquid Esters of Nitric Acid: Propane-1,2,3-triyl Trinitrate, Propane-1,2-diyl Dinitrate, Ethane-1,2-diyl Dinitrate and Methyl Nitrate

Abstract

A knowledge of blast wave parameters generated by detonating explosives is important for the evaluation of protective measures, modelling validation and post blast analysis. The relevant data are available for solid military explosives, but not for liquid or homemade explosives. In this contribution we present comparison of experimental incident blast wave parameters for bare charges, weighing from 100 g to 1 kg, of liquid esters of nitric acid, including propane-1,2,3-triyl trinitrate (NG), propane-1,2-diyl dinitrate (PGDN), ethane-1,2-diyl dinitrate (EGDN) and methyl nitrate (MeN), amongst themselves and with TNT charges of approximately the same size. The TNT equivalents, determined from both the incident overpressures and the impulse of the positive phase of the blast wave, were above 100% and showed relatively high scatter. The strongest blast wave parameters under otherwise identical conditions were observed for charges of methyl nitrate.