The Effect of Soil Mineralogy and Particle Breakage on the Impulse Generated from Shallow Buried Charges

Historically, most testing with shallow buried charges has focussed on soils which are predominantly quartz (silica)-based. Particle size, moisture content and density have previously been investigated to ascertain their importance, along other geotechnical parameters, in governing the magnitude of an impulsive output. This shown that, order content, particle size drive total impulse imparted. The work this paper presents results blast carried out carbonate sands investigate difference that mineralogy (and hence, propensity for breakage) both localised loading using array 17 Hopkinson pressure bars known as Characterisation Blast Loading (CoBL) apparatus. Carbonate thought more friable particles due plate-like morphology, opposed rounded morphology quartz-based sands. Testing was conducted low samples compared well-established Leighton Buzzard uniform sand isolate effect mineralogy/morphology loadings measured. show despite attaining a 23% lower bulk density, deliver almost identical impulses (0.7–3.0% higher) when nominally contents.