Imaging and Spectral Measurements of Explosions

A document describes experiments performed to investigate rates of delivery of energy onto targets from different explosive formulations. The experiments were designed to measure relative positions of blast fireballs and leading shock fronts; determine whether different explosive formulations exhibit unique spectral signatures; determine temperatures of gases and solids near fireball surfaces; and measure rates of heating as functions of time. In the experiments, unconfined explosions were observed using time-resolved laser shadowgraphy, spectrometry integrated over the first 50 ms following initiation, time-resolved three-wavelength pyrometry, and time-resolved heat-flux measurements.