Explosions

Incendiary/Thermal Effects

• Incendiary/Thermal effects are the fire and heat effects that occur in the immediate vicinity of the explosion.

Low explosives

• Produce longer incendiary thermal effects than high explosives.

High explosive

• Produces higher temperatures but for a shorter time.

Fragmentation

Fragmentation occurs when pieces of the explosive device or its container come apart and are driven outward from the center of the blast. Shrapnel may be added to the device to increase the number of projectiles created by the blast. Shrapnel includes nails, marbles, ball bearings, or other materials placed in and around the device.

Blast Effects

Blast-pressure effect includes a positive-pressure phase and a negative-pressure phase.

Positive pressure

• Moves rapidly from the point of origin of the explosion, pushing the air away from it and delivering violent force to everything in its path.

Negative pressure

A vacuum/suction phase, which accounts for much of the debris near the area of greatest damage.

Ground Shock

Ground and/or water shock is produced by the explosive shockwave being transmitted through the ground and/or water or through anything the explosive device is in contact with or buried within. If the device is in contact with a building, the shock transmits through the building walls.