Characterizing the Performance of Pipe Bombs |
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| Authors: | Jimmie C. Oxley Ph.D. James L. Smith Ph.D. Evan T. Bernier Ph.D. Fredrick Sandstrom M.S. Gregory G. Weiss M.S. Gunther W. Recht B.A. David Schatzer B.S. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Chemistry Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI;2. Vantage Resourcing Solutions, Beverly, MA;3. Applied Research Associates, Littleton, CO;4. David Schatzer, Washington, DC |
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| Abstract: | Pipe bombs of steel or PVC fragment in reproducible patterns when similarly configured. The power of the explosion correlates with number, mass, and size of the fragments recovered, where a large number of small, low‐mass fragments indicate a high‐power event and vice versa. In discussing performance, describing pipe fragmentation pattern by fragment weight distribution mapping (FWDM) or fragment surface area distribution mapping (FSADM) was useful. When fillers detonated, detonation velocities of ~4.4 mm/μs were measured. In such cases, side walls of the pipe were thrown first; the average fragment velocity was ~1000 km/s. In deflagrations, the end cap was first thrown; fragment velocities were only ~240 km/s. Blast overpressures varied; at 10 feet, 2 × 12 inch steel pipes containing ~550 g of detonable mixture produced overpressures of 5–6 psi; similar nondetonating pipes produced less than 2 psi. Maximum fragment throw distances were 250–300 m, with an average of ~100 m. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science pipe bombs fragmentation Gurney energies fragment weight distribution maps detonation velocity fragment velocity safe radius |
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