Brisance (Shattering Power)
Definition
The localised shattering effect of a detonation shock wave, measured by the Trauzl lead block test or the sand-crush test. RDX and HMX have higher brisance than TNT despite lower detonation temperatures, because their higher detonation velocities produce sharper shock fronts.
- Measured by
- Trauzl lead block test, sand-crush test
- Meaning
- Localised shattering effect of a detonation shock wave
- High-brisance examples
- RDX, HMX
- Driver
- Detonation velocity, not detonation temperature
Common questions
Why do RDX and HMX shatter material more than TNT despite lower temperatures?+
Brisance depends primarily on detonation velocity and the sharpness of the resulting shock front, not on the total heat released, so RDX and HMX, which detonate faster than TNT, produce a sharper, more shattering shock wave even though TNT burns hotter.
How does brisance differ from an explosive's overall power or brisance from its sensitivity?+
Brisance measures shattering effect specifically, separate from total energy output, which affects blast range, and from sensitivity, which describes how easily the explosive initiates; a material can be highly brisant while being relatively insensitive to shock, or the reverse.
Related terms
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