R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

359 Upsetting Tests
From the observations it becomes clear that the most effective underwater
explosives are those which can produce a high-pressure gas
bubble for the formation of the thrust.
Mixtures containing a high percentage of aluminum powder have
proved to be most effective (W Aluminum Powder; W Torpex; W Trialenes;
W Tritonal).
References:
G. Bjarnholt and P. Holmberg, Explosive Expansion Work in Underwater
Detonations, Reprints of the Sixth Symposium on Detonation,
San Diego, 1976 (from: Office of Naval Research, San Diego, USA).
S. Paterson and A. H. Begg, Underwater Explosion, Propellants and
Explosives 3,63–89 (1978).
Upsetting Tests
Stauchung; écrasement du crusher
Upsetting tests are used to determinate the W Brisance of the explosives.
An unconfined cartridge (envelopped in paper or in metal
sheet) acts upon a copper or lead crusher; the loss of height of the
crusher is a measure for the brisant performance of the tested explosive
(W Brisance).
The test according to Kast is shown in Fig. 25; the cartridge shock
acts by means of a guided pestle onto a copper crusher of 7 mm P and
10.5 mm height.
The simplified test according to Hess is shown in Fig. 26 (see opposite
page):
A lead cylinder, 60 mm (2.36 in.) high, 40 mm (1.57 in.) ∅, protected
by two, 6 mm-thick steel disks, is upset by a 100-g (3.53 oz.) cartridge
of the same diameter, 40 mm. The cylinder is pressed down into a
mushroom shape; in the case of sensitized special gelatins for seismic
use, the cylinder can be destroyed completely.