Department
Mining Engineering
Major
Mining Engineering
Research Advisor
Worsey, Paul Nicholas
Advisor's Department
Mining Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
Past studies and research into the possibility of using Vulcanite 75 have shown that it appears not to be a suitable substitute of either black powder or Pyrodex, but in that research, confinement, an important variable of proximal fireworks, was omitted. Our research focuses on confinement, mass, and type of powder, which are three important variables to be taken into consideration. Powder is weighed, placed in cartridges, and confined. Then, the cartridges are contained in a regulated environment. Electric matches are used to initiate the cartridges and the smoke output of each cartridge is measured by a professional light meter. These results are analyzed to determine which powder emits the least amount of smoke on average.
Biography
Alex Warren is a Junior in Mining Engineering. He is a member and officer of several student organizations and competes on the Missouri S& T mine rescue team as first aid captain, mucking team, NSSGA student design team, and steel bridge team. Alex is also a member of the explosives research team headed by Dr. Jason Baird.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Havener Center, Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
9 April 2008, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
The Effects of Powder Types and Applied Pressures on the Smoke Output of Proximal Fireworks
Havener Center, Upper Atrium/Hallway
Past studies and research into the possibility of using Vulcanite 75 have shown that it appears not to be a suitable substitute of either black powder or Pyrodex, but in that research, confinement, an important variable of proximal fireworks, was omitted. Our research focuses on confinement, mass, and type of powder, which are three important variables to be taken into consideration. Powder is weighed, placed in cartridges, and confined. Then, the cartridges are contained in a regulated environment. Electric matches are used to initiate the cartridges and the smoke output of each cartridge is measured by a professional light meter. These results are analyzed to determine which powder emits the least amount of smoke on average.
