R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Dautriche Method
Dautriche Method
A method for the determination of the detonation rate. The test sample
of the explosive is accommodated in a column, which may or may not
be enclosed in an iron tube; the length of the detonating column to be
measured is marked out by means of two blasting caps, one at each
end. A loop made of a detonating cord with a known detonation rate is
connected to the caps and is passed over a lead sheet in its middle
part. The cord is successively ignited at both ends, and the meeting
point of the two detonation waves advancing towards each other
makes a notch on the lead sheet. The distance between this meeting
point and the geometric center of the cord is a measure of the
reciprocal detonation rate to be determined:
Dx = D V m
2a
where Dx is the detonation rate of the sample, D is the detonation rate
of the detonator cord, m is the length of the distance to be measured,
and a is the distance between the notch and the center of the cord
length.
Fig. 10. Dautriche method.
The method is easy to carry out and no special chronometer is
required.
DBX
A cast explosive charge, containing RDX, ammonium nitrate, TNT and
aluminum powder in the proportions 21:21:40:18
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