Preliminary detonation study of dry, wet and aluminised ANFO using high-speed video

Abstract

ANFO is a well-known, reliable and safe commercial explosive. It has been around since the late 1950's and its detonation properties are well characterized. In this study, the detonation process of dry, wet and aluminised ANFO, was recorded using two high-speed cameras with recording rates of 1,200 fps and 50,000 fps. The 1,200-fps footage allowed the observation of the post blast fumes (i.e. NOx) produced by ANFOs with different water contents. The 50,000-fps footage allowed the observation of the detonation area, gas expansion phase and the measurement of the velocity of detonation (VOD). The video footage also recorded a bright zone in front of the gases (longer than 50 mm). We assumed that a reaction is taking place in this zone, but it is difficult to be sure if this is the reaction zone or not as it is longer than previously reported reaction zone lengths. Analysis showed that ANFO detonates effectively for water contents of up to 9 wt.%, and more importantly, there is little variation in the VOD. As far as the expansion of gases is concerned, the ANFO-Al expansion rate appears to be different. In this mixture, the absence of NOx fumes could have been due to the expected higher temperatures produced by the burning of the aluminium additive as observed in the images recorded with the high-speed camera.