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Related Experiment Videos

Characterizing the Performance of Pipe Bombs.

Jimmie C Oxley1, James L Smith1, Evan T Bernier2

  • 1Chemistry Department, University of Rhode Island, 140 Flagg Road, Kingston, RI.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|May 26, 2017
PubMed
Summary
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Pipe bomb explosions create predictable fragmentation patterns. Fragment characteristics, like weight and velocity, reveal the explosion

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Explosives Engineering
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Pipe bombs, constructed from steel or PVC, exhibit reproducible fragmentation patterns when similarly configured.
  • Understanding these fragmentation patterns is crucial for forensic analysis and reconstructing explosive events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the fragmentation characteristics of pipe bombs.
  • To correlate explosion power with fragment properties.
  • To evaluate methods for describing pipe fragmentation patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Fragment weight distribution mapping (FWDM).
  • Fragment surface area distribution mapping (FSADM).
  • Measurement of detonation velocities, fragment velocities, and blast overpressures.
Keywords:
Gurney energiesdetonation velocityforensic sciencefragment velocityfragment weight distribution mapsfragmentationpipe bombssafe radius

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Main Results:

  • Explosion power correlates with fragment number, mass, and size; numerous small fragments indicate a high-power event.
  • Detonation velocities reached approximately 4.4 mm/μs, with side walls thrown at ~1000 km/s.
  • Deflagrations resulted in lower fragment velocities (~240 km/s) and end cap ejection.
  • Blast overpressures of 5-6 psi were recorded at 10 feet for steel pipes with detonable mixtures, significantly higher than non-detonating controls.
  • Maximum fragment throw distances averaged ~100 m, reaching up to 250-300 m.

Conclusions:

  • Fragment weight distribution mapping (FWDM) and fragment surface area distribution mapping (FSADM) are effective tools for characterizing pipe bomb performance.
  • Fragment velocity and blast overpressure are key indicators differentiating between detonation and deflagration events.
  • The study provides valuable data for forensic investigations involving pipe bomb incidents.