Bruceton method

The Bruceton method is also frequently used in other destructive tests, eg in functioning tests of detonators, gap tests for shock sensitivity, or in tests where the test alters a sample so that it is no longer in its original state... 

A 40mg sample is placed on a brass cap which is inverted over the anvil. The falling weight is normally 5kg. If the volume of gas evolved by a 0.03mg sample is more than 1ml, then the test is considered a go. The Bruceton method is used and results are reported as Figure of Insensitiveness or FI which is ob-... 

The results of determination of impact sensitivity detected on the basis of sound (see the Bruceton method) were taken from literature [66-70] and are presented in Tables 1 and 2 as drop energies, Edr (expressed in J). The tables also contain a survey of the polynitro compounds studied, including their code designations. 

For screening tests, it is probably acceptable to simply look at the results and estimate the 50% stimulus level. However, the Bruceton Method may be used to calculate more accurate results. 

About 1943, a simplified method for ealen of deton velocities of solid organic expls was developed at the Explosives Research.Laboratory (ERL), Bruceton, Pennsylvania. As there was no report issued at that time but just an unpublished letter of E.M. Boggs F.J. Martin addressed to Brinkley, a brief description of the method was given by him in Ref 39, p 87 In the ERL method, the general equation of state (See our eq 23), with a single covolume constant per unit mass of gaseous expln product, was used and the decompn scheme which leads to quantitative formation of water,... 

T.W. Anderson et al, NAVORD Rept 65-46 (1946) described seven varieties of staircase method including the Bruceton test. Natrella (Ref 42a) also gives several References to other discussions of the up-and-down or staircase method of testing... 

The firing pin and the plastic holder are discarded after firing. The test procedure may follow in firing either the Bruceton or the Frankford method... 

During World War II Dixon and Mood [72] developed a special experimental method for testing the sensitiveness of explosives to impact. The method gave a statistical estimation of the mean value. It became known as the Bruceton up-and-down method. The primary advantage of the method is that it increases the accuracy with which the mean value can be economically determined. The method requires fewer tests than other methods. 

A most comprehensive report of the early work in the US on waxes for use in Compn A type expls is published as Ref 33. It covers all the work conducted on wax for use with RDX during the period of 15 Feb 1942 to 27 Dec 1945. Methods used in prepn, pelleting properties, sensitivity and stability characteristics of the 91/9 RDX/wax compns are discussed in detail. In addition exptl compns of RDX/wax/A1 and RDX/wax/KN03 are briefly mentioned The 90/10 Aristowax 160-65/Alox 600, also known as Bruceton Wax No 10, was used thruout WWII. It was used in both Compn A and in Compn B. The Alox 600 used generally contains small quantities of resinous material insoluble in molten wax. The Alox 600 also is believed to be responsible for some of the stickiness and wax exudation of the Compn A. Recommendation was made to decrease the concn of Alox 600 from 10% to 1% in Wax No 10 to reduce these... 

Method of analysis of commercial product suitable for use in mine expls, as practiced at US Bureau of Mines, Bruceton and Pittsburgh, Pa, is described in Ref 1. The method is not given here, because it does not seem to have any advantage over the method prescribed in US Federal Specification 0-P-559(Ref 6)... 

Run-Down Method. A statistical testing procedure developed at Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia (Ref 1) which produces a more complete frequency and probability of reaction curve than the Bruceton, up-and-down, or staircase methods (see under Impact, Initiation of Explosion by in Vol 7, 136-R to I37-L). Although a larger number of tests is used than in the latter procedures, the method makes possible a better evaluation of the distribution of the population. Starting at a level expected to be between 0%... 

Plate denting tests used at ERL, Bruceton, Pa have been conducted by two methods ... 

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