Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

Breaching; Confinement; Defense; Explosives; Plate Dent; Polyurethane

Abstract

"The effects of a rigid polyurethane foam used as a confinement material on four types of breaching explosives were tested, focusing on the changes in shockwave peak pressures, detonation load compression forces, and brisance cratering abilities. The Plate Dent testing procedure was modified to incorporate a load cell force sensor, and two air overpressure sensors were included adjacent to the blast to quantify each test result. The testing variables focused on the polyurethane foam cure times and thickness volumes around the breaching explosives to determine the breaching charges' optimal energy output capabilities when confined by the foam material. The rigid foam confinement increased the compression forces and brisance cratering abilities of all four tested explosives types as the foam cure times were extended and foam confinement radius increased. A reduction in the positive peak blast pressure was noted as the foam confinement material was increased. An increase in the peak blast pressure and compression force occurred when the polyurethane foam cure times were extended. When confined by the polyurethane foam, the average compression force was increased by 483% and the average Plate Dent depths were increased by 26.4%. The average blast peak pressure of a polyurethane foam confined detonation was 10% less than an unconfined detonation. This study's findings show how a breaching charge confined by polyurethane foam would provide a more damaging blast force to a structure while reducing the blast exposure to the breaching team performing the explosive breach"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Perry, Kyle A.

Committee Member(s)

Worsey, Paul Nicholas.
Mulligan, Phillip R.

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Explosives Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2021

Pagination

xiv, 152 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographic references (pages 148-151).

Rights

© 2021 Nathan Franz Paerschke-O'Brien, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11917

Electronic OCLC #

1286684349

Download

Share

 
COinS