The Double Pipe Test for Commercial Explosives I. Description and Results

A new test for commercial explosives called the Double Pipe Test has been devised. A column of explosive is placed in the top pipe, simulating a borehole. This pipe rests on a thick‐walled witness pipe, which is dented by the action of the explosive. The arrangement of explosive and initiator in the top pipe is made to represent as closely as possible the practical use of the explosive. No special skill or instrumentation is needed to conduct the test, and scaling up to large charge diameters is easy. Results presented show that the test is very sensitive to variables such as type of initiator and degree of consolidation of the explosive. These and other aspects of explosive performance which are important in their practical use can readily be studied quantitatively with the Double Pipe Test.