Experimental characterization of explosives and their effects

Abstract

This thesis represents a brief overview of author´s research work done in the characterization of explosives, their detonation properties and effects they impose on the surroundings. This includes development of methods and instrumentation as well as their application in particular cases of individual explosives and explosive composition. The topics studied cover determination of detonation velocity with optical methods, determination of detonation pressure by shock or particle velocity measurements, studies of the ability of explosives to accelerate inert materials, characterization of material under explosive or shock loading and the issues of blast wave generation in air by detonating explosive.