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TNT particle size distributions from detonated 155-mm howitzer rounds
Susan Taylor1, Alan Hewitt, James Lever
1Cold Regions Research & Eng. Lab., CRREL, Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, 72 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03766-1290, USA. susan.taylor@erdc.usace.army.mil
Chemosphere
|February 28, 2004
Summary
Understanding explosive residue is key for environmental protection. This study characterized trinitrotoluene (TNT) particle size and mass after detonations, revealing smaller particles dominate contamination, while larger ones pose immediate risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Munitions Analysis
Background:
- Sustainable range management requires understanding explosive residue.
- The physical form of deposited explosives influences environmental contamination.
- Particle size and distribution of explosives post-detonation are largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify trinitrotoluene (TNT) scattering from detonations.
- To determine the size, mass, and surface-area distributions of TNT particles.
- To inform strategies for minimizing environmental contamination from munitions.
Main Methods:
- Collected residues from high-order and low-order detonations of TNT-filled 155-mm rounds.
- Quantified scattered TNT amounts, ranging from 0.00001% to percent-level.
- Imaged thousands of TNT particles to analyze size, mass, and surface-area distributions.
Main Results:
- High-order detonations scattered 0.00001% to 2% of TNT; low-order detonations scattered percent-level amounts.
- For high-order detonations, sub-millimeter particles contributed most mass and surface area.
- For low-order detonations, centimeter-sized pieces held most mass, while sub-millimeter particles dominated surface area.
Conclusions:
- Sub-millimeter TNT particles are significant contributors to mass and surface area.
- Large TNT pieces disintegrate into smaller, readily soluble particles.
- Prompt removal of large TNT fragments is recommended to prevent contamination.