Effects of Explosions on Humans

Explosion effects are commonly separated into a number of classes. The main division is between direct and indirect effects. Sometimes, direct effects ate referred to as primary effects, and indirect effects ate then subdivided into secondary and tertiary effects. 

The main direct, primary effect to humans from an explosion is the sudden increase in pressure that occurs as a blast wave passes. It can cause injury to pressure-sensitive human organs, such as ears and lungs. 

Building collapse can be regarded as a secondary effect, although it is not common to group this effect within any class. 

The explosion wind following a blast can carry persons away, causing injury as a result of their falling, tumbling over, or colliding with obstacles. This effect is referred to as a tertiary effect. 

Effects are described, together with criteria to calculate the probable degree of lethality. 

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This appendix is a summary of the woiit published in the so-called Green Book (1989). Possible effects of explosions on humans include blast-wave overpressure effects, explosion-wind effects, impact from fragments and debris, collapse of buildings, and heat-radiation effects. Heat-radiation effects ate not treated here see Chapter 6, Figure 6.10 and Table 6.6. 

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