Session C4: EM.3 Small Scale Safety Testing

Statistical Evaluation of Small-scale Explosives Testing

Small-scale explosives sensitivity testing is used to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate risk. Both relative comparison and characterization of the transition from no reaction to reaction is used to estimate that risk. Statistical comparisons and use of statistically efficient methods are critical to accurately and efficiently make risk related decisions. Many public and private entities are not making accurate decisions based on the test data because of the lack of properly applying basic statistical principles. We present methods and examples showing how to use statistics to accurately and efficiently evaluate the risk for relative comparison and in-process risk evaluation. Some of the methods presented include the Significance Chart Method and adaptive step-size techniques like the Neyer D-Optimal method. These methods are compared to the more traditional approaches like Bruceton and Probit. Use of statistical methods can significantly improve the efficiency, accuracy, and applicability of small-scale explosives sensitivity testing.   

Automated High-Speed Video Detection of Small-Scale Explosives Testing

Small-scale explosives sensitivity test data is used to evaluate hazards of processing, handling, transportation, and storage of energetic materials. Accurate test data is critical to implementation of engineering and administrative controls for personnel safety and asset protection. Operator mischaracterization of reactions during testing contributes to either excessive or inadequate safety protocols. Use of equipment and associated algorithms to aid the operator in reaction determination can significantly reduce operator error. Safety Management Services, Inc. has developed an algorithm to evaluate high-speed video images of sparks from an ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) machine to automatically determine whether or not a reaction has taken place. The algorithm with the high-speed camera is termed GoDetect (patent pending). An operator assisted version for friction and impact testing has also been developed where software is used to quickly process and store video of sensitivity testing. We have used this method for sensitivity testing with multiple pieces of equipment. We present the fundamentals of GoDetect and compare it to other methods used for reaction detection.   

Improved Sensitivity Testing of Explosives Using Transformed Up-Down Methods

Sensitivity tests provide data that help establish guidelines for the safe handling of explosives. Any sensitivity test is based on assumptions to simplify the method or reduce the number of individual sample evaluations. Two common assumptions that are not typically checked after testing are 1) explosive response is linear in the applied stimulus levels and 2) the chosen test level spacing is close to the standard deviation of the explosive response function (for Bruceton Up-Down testing). In this work we present efforts to improve sensitivity testing by addressing these assumptions using Transformed Up-Down (TUD) test methods augmented with simple algorithms. TUD methods have been developed extensively for psychometric testing applications over the past 50 years and generally use multiple tests at a given level to determine whether to increase or decrease the applied stimulus. In the context of our work, we can use TUD methods that concentrate testing around useful probability levels and augment them with algorithms for adjusting test level spacing during the evaluation. Transformed methods that we have developed to address the assumptions noted above will be examined and evaluated with simulation to highlight their properties and assess their usefulness.   

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Proficiency Testing on Small-Scale Safety and Thermal Testing of Improvised Explosives

One of the first steps in establishing safe handling procedures for explosives is small-scale safety and thermal (SSST) testing. To better understand the response of improvised materials or HMEs to SSST testing, 18 HME materials were compared to 3 standard military explosives in a proficiency-type round robin study among five laboratories---2 DoD and 3 DOE---sponsored by DHS. The testing matrix has been designed to address problems encountered with improvised materials---powder mixtures, liquid suspensions, partially wetted solids, immiscible liquids, and reactive materials. Over 30 issues have been identified that indicate standard test methods may require modification when applied to HMEs to derive accurate sensitivity assessments needed for development safe handling and storage practices. This presentation will discuss experimental difficulties encountered when testing these problematic samples, show inter-laboratory testing results, show some statistical interpretation of the results, and highlight some of the testing issues.   

Safety Testing of Ammonium Nitrate Based Mixtures

Ammonium nitrate (AN)/ammonium nitrate based explosives have a lengthy documented history of use by adversaries in acts of terror. While historical research has been conducted on AN-based explosive mixtures, it has primarily focused on detonation performance while varying the oxygen balance between the oxidizer and fuel components. Similarly, historical safety data on these materials is often lacking in pertinent details such as specific fuel type, particle size parameters, oxidizer form, etc. A variety of AN-based fuel-oxidizer mixtures were tested for small-scale sensitivity in preparation for large-scale testing. Current efforts focus on maintaining a zero oxygen-balance (a stoichiometric ratio for active chemical participants) while varying factors such as charge geometry, oxidizer form, particle size, and inert diluent ratios. Small-scale safety testing was conducted on various mixtures and fuels. It was found that ESD sensitivity is significantly affected by particle size, while this is less so for impact and friction. Thermal testing is in progress to evaluate hazards that may be experienced during large-scale testing.