The Journal of

EXPLOSIVES
Volume 36 Number 5
September/October 2019
ENGINEERING

28 Influence of Sample Rate

Strain-Based P A G E

6
on Underwater Blast
Pressure Measurements
Vibration Criteria
for Blasting in
New York City
 The Journal of On the Cover: World Trade Center, New York City, 2010. The

EXPLOSIVES concept of strain-based vibration criteria began in January of

2010 when rock blasting near historic structures for construction

ENGINEERING of the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub. Photo by

William Dougherty, Port Authority of NYNJ. See story, page 6.

F E AT U R E S D E PA RT M E N T S

6 28 4
From the President
18
Industry News
Activities of the Student Call for
education and con- Papers.
ference committees.

Strain-Based
Vibration Criteria
for Blasting in New
Influence of Sample
Rate on Underwater
Blast Pressure
5
From the Executive
20
Calendar of Events
York City Measurements Director A list of
Based on several years This study involved upcoming
of research involving measurements of in- events in the

14
vibration measure- water blast pressure explosives industry.
ments of tall struc- time histories for a

22
tures during blasting series of small-scale,
within several feet open-water explosive
from historic and detonations at vary-
Landmarked build- ing cube-root scaled
ings, a new strain- distances (CRSD) Dynamite Daze
based criteria has recorded at 13 dif- Laboratories. Explosives, 100
been developed. ferent sample rates.
The purpose of this Years Ago, More
testing program using or Less
unconfined charges German Explosives

16
was to establish the Book.
minimum sample
rates required to

36
accurately capture
peak pressures from
open-water detona-
tions at various scaled Chapter News
distances. News from Black Hills
and Northern Plains Mother Nature
Chapters of ISEE. Breaks the Rules

Copyright ©2019 Society of Explosives Engineers, Inc., dba International Society of Explosives Engineers
The Journal of Explosives Engineering, published six times per year, is the official publication of the International Society of Explosives Engineers. The Society is not responsible for opinions
expressed and statements made by authors in articles or advertisements published in the Journal. ISEE assumes no responsibility for the completeness, accuracy, or conclusions reached in
any of the articles or items published in this Journal.
Since the information is unique and because each job site is different, information presented in this Journal may not apply to your specific field situation. Readers are cautioned to careful-
ly consider ideas presented and decide for themselves if the procedures described are safe and appropriate for the intended use. The International Society of Explosives Engineers cannot
be responsible for the specific application of the information presented. Also, remember to always consult the manufacturer of the product(s) you are using for recommended practices.
Mention in this publication of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for its use. Registered names, trademarks, logos, artwork,
photographs, etc., used in this publication, even without specific indication thereof, are to be considered protected by law.
Yearly subscription rates: $95 U.S.A., $115 all others (International Air Mail). All members of the Society receive a complimentary subscription.

2 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

Remote Portable Monitoring System
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tem includes a modem pre-programmed
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 From The
The Journal of Explosives Engineering
Published by International Society
of Explosives Engineers
26500 Renaissance Parkway
Cleveland, Ohio 44128
www.isee.org

Publisher
President
International Society of Explosives Engineers The Six Pillars: Education
Editor
Dede Manross
and Conference
[email protected]
By James Daley
Contributing Writers President, ISEE
Cathy Aimone-Martin
R.B. Hopler
Oana Meins
Joseph A. Meyers

Board of Directors
We have come to the last of the six The Explosives Security, Government
President pillars of the ISEE Strategic Plan: educa- Affairs and Transportation Technical
James P. Daley tion and conference. Thinking about the Subcommittee is a combination of sev-
Vice President, Administration 2019 theme Bridging Plan into Action eral prior committees which found that
Alastair C. Torrance led to the realization that many of our their work was overlapping and creating
Vice President, Technical members do not know the inner work- duplicate efforts. This is the committee
Braden T. Lusk ings of ISEE. This series of articles about that works with regulators on the is-
Treasurer our ISEE committees has been my effort sues of the day, both reacting to adverse
Janeen T. Smith to clarify how each member can identify events and proactively providing infor-
that ONE thing they can do to help make mation to assist in the development of
Secretary
John T. Watson our industry of ISEE better and stronger. new regulations.
The mission of ISEE is "To advance The Public Education and Public Re-
Past President the science and art of explosives engi- lations Subcommittee, one of the more
Jack W. Eloranta
neering,” and no committee is more active subcommittees of ISEE, have de-
Directors closely aligned to this statement than veloped and continues to update the
Michael Allen
Mark Dean the Education Committee. The subcom- World of Explosives website, and has
William Hissem mittees under the Education Committee developed numerous public education
Doug Hoy are blaster’s training and education, co- documents. They are currently working
Daniel Johansson
Kristen N. Kolden chaired by Kurt Oakes, Kristen Kolden, on a Spanish translation of the World of
Daniel R. Leach Enrique Munaretti and Larry Mirabelli; Explosives website, are promoting the
Enrique Munaretti the Explosives Security, Government Af- website to communities concerned with
Kurt B. Oakes
Yong Pan fairs and Transportation and Technical- blasting, are working to increase search
William J. Reisz Subcommittee chaired by Bill Reisz and engine traffic, and are presenting at con-
Lon D. Santis the Public Education & Public Relations ferences about the website. I don’t think
Cameron Thomas
Simon J. Tose
Subcommittee chaired by Tristan Worsey you could find better place for your pas-
with Danny Leach as board liaison. This sion than on one of the subcommittees
Executive Director group of subcommittees works directly of the education committee!
J. Winston Forde with government agencies on the issues The Conference Committee is the
Director of Information Services of the day, converts the technical ex- engine that drives the ISEE. The annual
Brian Wingfield
pertise of our membership into training conference provides the majority of the
Director of Communication modules, seminars and informational funding which supports ISEE in its efforts
Dede Manross
publications and provides outreach to to accomplish its goals. The subcommit-
Membership Manager
Patrick Lang
the public on blasting related issues and tees of the Conference Committee are:
information. All can benefit from your Conference Advisory, chaired by Mark
Marketing Manager
Bill Wahl help if this is where your passion lies. Dean; Conference Program, chaired by
The Blaster’s Training and Education Lon Santis; and Standards, chaired by
Office Manager
Mary Spena-Bosch Subcommittee is developing blasting Doug Hoy.
Publications Coordinator fundamentals training modules based The Conference Advisory Subcom-
Lauren Creneti on the 18th Edition of the ISEE Blasters’ mittee reviews the abstracts and final
Membership Coordinator Handbook and a process to better sup- paper submissions for the technical ses-
Stefanie Bourbon port regional workshops/conferences. sions, then works with the authors to
Admin/Conference Assistant They also work with regulators to obtain develop their work into the presenta-
Kimberly Gallen training hours credit at ISEE workshops tions that are the heart and soul of the
and plan the Blaster’s Weekend Seminar conference. This is a daunting task, but
All correspondence should be directed to: at the annual conference. many hands make small work. This sub-
International Society of Explosives Engineers,
26500 Renaissance Parkway, Cleveland, Ohio 44128
Telephone: (440) 349-4400. Fax: (440) 349-3788. (Continued on page 19.)
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.isee.org

4 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 From The
Executive Director
Midyear Board Meeting
Tied to Chapter Meeting
By J. Winston Forde

As President James Daley concludes

his communications on the strategic di-
rection of ISEE, his message also reveals
how busy ISEE’s board, staff, and volun-
teers have been. With input from across
all areas of the Society’s membership,
your board of directors and staff have
been working diligently to deliver on the
goals of the strategic plan.
A strategic area of focus for ISEE is to
increase the support of its chapters. This
year’s midyear board meeting was held
in Louisville, Kentucky. While much was
accomplished during the board meeting,
the location also provided the opportu-
nity to meet with ISEE’s Kentucky Blue-
grass Chapter members.
Similar to what other chapters deal ISEE Board of Directors and Bluegrass Chapter Members From left to right: Tristan Worsey, Kristie
with, the Bluegrass Chapter is currently Allen-Bishop, Brian Lewis, Mike Allen, Janeen Smith, Nancy Cole-Allen, Jim Daley, Jack Eloranta and
Doug Hoy.
going through a transition. Without a
good succession plan, some important
information may not be passed on to chapter resources section on ISEE’s web- ville. The project is approximately 60 feet
those incoming chapter leaders. site at https://www.isee.org/chapter-re- away from a CSX elevated railway.
1. What are the minimum financial re- sources/forms-templates.
porting requirements for a chapter? Should questions come up that can’t A brief overview of the project:
2. What ISEE tools are available to be found in the operations guide, con- • At the time of the bid, no blasting was
communicate upcoming chapter tact Patrick Lang, ISEE Membership allowed on the project.
events? Manager or Stefanie Bourbon, ISEE • Other mechanical means of rock re-
3. What key activities do successful Membership Coordinator for assistance. moval deemed failures (Rock Trench-
chapters use to boost membership Many document templates can be found ing, Hoe Ramming, Expansion Grout,
and involvement? within the chapter resources section of and other means).
4. What executive officer positions are the website and include such things as • November 2018, HTA was approached
needed for a successful chapter? a chapter financial statement, meet- by Garney Construction to look at the
These types of questions were asked ing agenda template, meeting minutes job and provide a blast plan to MSD
during a joint ISEE board and chapter template and a reimbursement expense (Metropolitan Sewer District) and CSX
dinner meeting. With some ISEE board form. Railway.
members being involved with success- • The blast plan was approved in Febru-
fully run chapters, the information ex- ISEE Board Visits ary 2019.
• CSX GeoTech approved the PPV
change was fruitful.
There are other sources available to Louisville Construction threshold to 1.5 in/sec, with a media-
chapters to assist them with questions Blast Site tion level of 1.275 (85%).
• CSX inspector is onsite daily with the
like these. ISEE’s Chapter Operations
While in Louisville Kentucky, ISEE’s HTA team.
Guide is a great source of information
board of directors was able to tour the Many thanks go to the Bluegrass
for uncovering how to start a chapter;
Lexington & Payne CSO Interceptor proj- Chapter for their hospitality and hosting
how to create a chapter constitution;
ect. HTA Enterprises was contacted to the ISEE board of directors. ISEE looks
and what to consider when populating a
blast rock for a 12-foot wide CSO trench forward to supporting all of its chap-
chapter board of directors. The Chapter
located in the middle of a combination ters in their efforts and to assist when
Operations Guide can be accessed in the
sewer/storm creek in downtown Louis- needed.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 5

Strain-Based
Vibration Criteria
for Blasting in
New York City
By Joseph A. Meyers and Catherine Aimone-Martin

Abstract
A new strain-based criteria is being ad-
opted for rock blasting in New York City
(NYC). This criteria is based on several years
of research involving vibration measure-
ments of tall structures during blasting
within several feet from buildings designat-
ed historic and landmarked. This research
has demonstrated that tall, heavy struc-
tures show little upper-structure vibratory
response during hard-rock, urban blasting
carried out in NYC. The Fire Department of
New York City (FDNY) permits rock blasting
and regulated limits for ground vibrations World Trade Center, New York City, 2010. The concept of strain-based vibration
using the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) safe criteria began in January of 2010 when rock blasting near historic structures for
construction of the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub.
blasting criteria. However, these regulations
are often superseded by a 0.5 in/s (12.7 mm/s) limit imposed by the New York City Department of
Buildings for historic and Landmarked buildings that are adjacent to the majority of blasting projects
in the city. This onerous limit is often exceeded resulting in frequent stop work orders that increase
the cost and time of rock excavation projects.
The new criteria has two components, the first of which is a modification to the USBM frequency-
based peak particle velocity limits. The modification includes an allowance above 2 in/s (50.8 mm/s)
at peak ground motion frequencies from 80 Hz up to a 4 in/s (101.6 mm/s) allowance when peak
frequencies exceed 160 Hz. In instances where in-ground vibrations exceed the upper-bound al-
lowance, a global structure wall strain criteria applies. In such cases, the global wall strains over the
building height must not exceed 25 micro-strains for historic structures with interior plaster walls and
50 micro-strains for buildings with drywall interiors.
This article explains the new vibration and building strain criteria and discusses new requirements
for seismograph operator certification and blaster’s licensing for NYC.

6 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

Background implemented at the discretion of DOB personnel for all city
construction projects requiring rock blasting. NYC has some
The Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) proposed a of the largest prominent and deepest blasting projects in the
rule change to replace "Section 3307.17 Vibrations and Air- county while most blasting projects are in close proximity to
blast" contained in "Section FC 3307 Blasting Operations." landmarked and historic structures. As such, the DOB policy
Current ground vibration regulations adhere to the U.S. Bu- traditionally has had jurisdiction over limits imposed by FDNY.
reau of Mines (USBM) safe vibration recommendations devel- As an example, the Nordstrom Tower is planned to reach 1,550
oped for residential structures and are given in figure 1 as the ft (474.4 m) to the roof parapet and required foundation
solid black line (Siskind, et al., 1980). rock blasting in 2014 to a depth of 90 ft (27.4 m). Shown in
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) adopted figure 2, this tower rock foundation is adjacent to landmarked
a vibration criteria in 1988 by issuing a technical policy No. and historic buildings. Thus, DOB’s 0.5 in/s (12.7 mm/s) limit
10/88 that set a 0.5 in/s (12.7 mm/s) vibration limit at build- applied to all blasting within the outline of the project site
ings designated landmarked or within historic districts without placed severe restrictions on explosives charge weights and
reference to peak frequencies or location of measurement for the size of blasts. Rock blasting took place several times a day
blasting near such structures (City of New York, Department while mechanical rock excavation closest to the structures was
of Buildings, 1988). This criteria is plotted as a dashed line in performed continuously using rock hammers that imparted a
figure 1 in contrast to FDNY limits. great deal of disturbance to inhabitants of adjacent buildings.
This criteria is not a code but rather a policy that can be

Figure 1. Ground vibration limits currently in place in New York City.

Figure 2. Proximity of Landmarked and historic structures to a typical blast site in New York City.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 7

 Compounding the difficulties of meeting the DOB limits is
the fact that blast monitoring consultants traditionally mount
Proposed Rule Changes
seismograph geophones at locations that are not in compli- Since 2010, 26 mid-rise (building heights up to 75 ft or
ance with FDNY code and without using industry-standard 22.9 m) and high-rise (building heights greater than 75 ft to
coupling methods. Examples of geophone mounting are 400 ft or 22.9 to 121.9 m) historic and landmarked structures
shown in figure 3. FDNY regulations clearly specify that geo- were instrumented at rock blasting sites to determine struc-
phones must "measure and record ground vibrations." How- ture motions in relation to in-ground vibration amplitudes and
ever, geophones are mounted on walls and floors of adjacent zero-crossing frequencies. Instrumentation methods were es-
building basements, in subway tunnel walls, strapped to piles tablished to measure co-located upper and lower structure
and columns using baling wire or hose clamps, or placed on motions to compute global wall strains. This work resulted in
sidewalks and exposed concrete foundations and weighted numerous publications (Aimone-Martin, et al., 2014a, 2014b,
using improperly positioned sandbags. Such locations do 2015a, 2015b, 2016; Hamdi, et al., 2015, 2016; and Dowd-
not record in-ground (or in-rock) vibrations as mandated but ing, et al., 2015, 2016; 2018). The purpose of these studies
rather measure highly amplified structure motions. As a re- was to determine safe ground vibration limits appropriate for
sult, vibration measurements frequently exceeded the onerous tall, massive landmarked and historic structures that are found
DOB limit at monitoring locations within structures, resulting to be far stiffer than wood-frame 1- and 2-story residential
in frequent stop work orders by DOB that increased the cost structures that form the basis for the U.S. Bureau of Mines
and time of rock excavation projects. safe blasting criteria.
A change to monitoring practices was instituted during Predominate ground motion frequencies in the schist rock
foundation blasting for the Port Authority Transportation Hub were shown to average 190 + 60 Hz. As such, very little blast
at the World Trade Center (WTC) early in 2010. Rock surface- vibration energy transferred into mid- and high-rise structures
mounted and in-ground geophones were deployed to pro- beyond the lower floor levels. Highly attenuated upper struc-
duce accurate ground vibration records. DOB had no authority ture motions were barely detectable in massive structures and
on this project and FDNY limits were in force. This project global wall strains remained well below 20 micro-strains even
provided the opportunity to record close-in vibrations to dem- when in-ground vibrations at structure foundations exceeded
onstrate the high frequencies generated during rock blasting 8.0 in/s (203 mm/s). Therefore, proposed revisions to FDNY
in the hard Manhattan schist rock and set the framework for ground vibration limits applied to rock blasting were devel-
changes in vibration criteria and monitoring practices in NYC. oped to take into account the stiff nature of mid- and high-
rise structures.

Figure 3. Common methods of mounting geophones in New York City to record structure blast vibra-
tions: mounting on walls in subway tunnels (a) and in basements (b-d), strapping on steel piles (e-f) and
placed on concrete pads with suspended sandbags (g).

8 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 WINPROFX-3D HIGHWALL PROFILING/BLAST DESIGN SOFTWARE
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The operator can modify blast parameters such as hole offsets, hole angle,
stemming height, subdrill and burden depth increments to achieve the desired
minimum, average or maximum burden at depth. Results can be printed to a
Bluetooth printer or converted directly to a PDF or excel report for sharing (Android
version). The Android version enables taking of photographs of the rock face to be
associated with the 2d profile. The results can be downloaded to a Windows 10
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SPEEDVOD – TDR –VELOCITY OF DETONATION RECORDER

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 The proposal rule has two parts. The first part, which has • 25 micro-strains for landmarked and historic buildings com-
primacy over the second part, prescribes a revised frequency- prising aged plaster and other vibration-sensitive building
based peak particle velocity (PPV) limit to ground vibrations materials, and
as measured by geophones mounted in the solid rock ground • 50 micro-strains for buildings comprising modern drywall.
within boreholes adjacent to structures or secured to a rock These limits are based on well-established cracking strain
face below exposed foundation basements. The new criteria is limits for the weakest materials found in urban structures and
presented in figure 4. The inflection points, constant displace- determined by experiment (Siskind, et al., 1980, 1984; Silva
ment lines, and constant velocity lines are identified for clarity. and Campiteli, 2006; Paes and Carasek, 2002). The proposed
This proposed rule provides for a vibration limit allowance at limit of 25 micro-strains for aged plaster represents a five-fold
peak frequencies above 80 Hz with a constant 4.0 in/s (101.6 factor of safety against cracking while the drywall limit repre-
mm/s) allowance for peak frequencies above 140 Hz. sents a four-fold factor of safety.
In the event that PPV amplitudes exceed the upper bound
limits shown in figure 4 adjacent to structure foundations,
a global strain-based criteria is enforced that represents the
Future Certification and Licensing
second part of the new rule. This part requires that global Programs
wall lateral shear and tensile strains are computed over the Plans are underway in NYC to implement training and cer-
height of the building using methods described by Dowding tification programs for blasters and seismograph operators
(1985, 1996), Siskind, et al., (1980) and Aimone-Martin, et to each obtain a Certificate of Fitness (COF). These programs
al., (2003a, 2003b, 2014). Structure monitoring at the street will update and modernize current requirements and include
and upper parapet elevations are required using bi-axial geo- education in new technologies involving explosives, initiation
phones mounted at the structure’s closest corner to blasting systems, and monitoring. Blasters and seismograph operators
to record horizontal motions parallel with the two conjoined must pass both a written and oral exam to ensure each fully
structure walls. Global shear and tensile strains are computed understand concepts, procedures and requirements of plan-
from the time-correlated differential displacement time histo- ning, implementation, and reporting. The oral exam is critical
ries between the lower and upper elevations. Proposed strain to ensure each COF holder fully comprehends responsibilities
limits in the new rule are as follows: and duties and is qualified to undertake assigned tasks.

10 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 Figure 4. Proposed rule with inflection points and lines defined.

Companies offering seismograph monitoring services for blast site. Submission of a monitoring plan will be a pre-blast
blasting must be registered with and qualified by FDNY based requirement for a blasting permit as well as coordination with
on experience and capabilities. the drilling and blasting crew to gain access to the blast site
Seismograph operators must be fully capable of deploy- to ensure ground vibrations are properly recorded during rock
ing vibration geophones within the rock at the blast sites and excavation. A description of blasting seismograph equipment
mounting geophones on selected structures adjacent to the and deployment methods must be included in the plan along
with procedures to ensure that all equipment is properly op-

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 11

erational at all times. A summary of each seismograph record and vibration limits may be called out in project specifications.
for all blasts must be sent via SMS messaging to FDNY imme- However, exceedance of these project-specified limits other
diately after the blast and a summary of each day’s monitoring than those specified in the rule may not be grounds for a stop
results submitted to show compliance with provisions of the work order (by any authority) on blasting operations under the
rule. jurisdiction of a FDNY blasting permit.
To obtain a blasters COF, 16 hours of accepted training will
be required prior to testing. Recertification will be required
every 3 years along with an 8-hour refresher course. FDNY
A Final Word
is working with the training directors of the unions to use NYC like many large urban cities has remained isolated
the training facilities for practical hands-on experience in both from technology advances over the recent decades resulting
drilling and blasting. from a status quo mentality that arises from complex politics,
A general blast plan will be required by the FDNY Explosives overcrowding, and concerns for public safety. Paralysis sets
Unit and submitted prior to the issuance of all blasting permits in from the fear of change and the resistance to reach out-
and the start of blasting. The plan will identify the names and side and seek guidance in training and education. The FDNY
qualifications of the blasting crew, blaster in charge, explo- strain-based structure monitoring rule required for blasting
sives supplier and products to be used, procedures for trans- operations is the right step toward improving technology that
porting, handling, and disposal of explosives and include a site is defensible and makes sense.
safety and security plan for clearing, guarding, and warning. The FDNY Explosives Unit recognizes that the use of ex-
The plan will include a typical blast design layout and timing plosives in NYC can be expanded and controlled with the
and provisions for test blasts. A list of all personnel working assistance of experts in the field to improve project safety
on the blast site must be provided including office personnel. and reduce construction time. The recent energetic felling of
The current oversight role of the FDNY Explosives Unit will the Kosciuszko Bridge is a prime example. This was the first
continue with blast site daily visits by trained and experienced time that controlled explosive cutting charges were allowed
inspectors to monitor blasting operations and address con- in the city to demolish a bridge 5 ft (1.5 m) from the newly
cerns, review all paperwork, and inspections of onsite day-box constructed bridge and piers and 25 ft (7.6 m) from existing
magazines. structures. The cost savings in time using controlled explosives
rather than inherently dangerous mechanical cutting methods
Plan for Rule Implementation could not even be computed.

This new rule has been under review by the FDNY Explo-
sives Unit and legal team for the past 3 years. The next step is
References
to disseminate the rule for public comment. Once FDNY has 1. Aimone-Martin, C. T. and B. M. Meins, J. Lauer and R.
received feedback and all concerns are addressed, the rule will Brenta. 2014a. Tall Structure Response to Close-in Urban
become immediately effective and adopted into code in 2020 Blasting in New York City, International Society of Explo-
when the NYC fire code is updated. sives Engineers 40th Annual Conference on Explosives
Disseminating the new monitoring procedures for rock and Blasting Technique, Denver.
blasting in a large urban environment will be a challenge to 2. Aimone-Martin, C. T., B. M. Meins, J. Lauer and R. Brenta.
include other agency stakeholders, design and consulting en- 2014b. Tall Structure Response to Close-in Urban Blasting
gineers, and local unions supplying the drilling and blasting in New York City, Journal of Explosives Engineering, July/
workers. An important component to implement the rule will August, pp 6-38.
be interagency coordination and briefing coordinated by the 3. Aimone-Martin, C. T., B. M. Meins, and C. Woznick.
Office of Emergency Management to ensure all agencies are 2015a. Close-in Urban Blasting in New York City: Com-
fully aware of the changes. Cooperation with inspection engi- parison of Mid- and High-Rise, International Society of Ex-
neers with the NYC Department of Buildings will be essential plosives Engineers 41st Annual Conference on Explosives
to ensure FDNY has primacy over all building monitoring and and Blasting Technique, New Orleans.
compliance with the limits imposed in the new rule. 4. Aimone-Martin, C. T., B. M. Meins, and C. Woznick.
Provisions of this rule must be integrated into all plans and 2015b. Tall Structure Response to Close-in Urban Blasting
specifications prepared by design engineering firms for each in New York City Part 2, Journal of Explosives Engineer-
blasting job. It will be imperative that design engineering firms ing, May/June, pp 6-13.
acknowledge, by referencing to the rule, the monitoring re- 5. Aimone-Martin, C.T. and B. M. Meins. 2016. Strain-based
quirements when blasting is proximal to structures. Specifica- Instrumentation for Marine Terminal Rock Blasting, In-
tion must require that in-ground geophones are placed around ternational Society of Explosives Engineers 40th Annual
the perimeter of the blast site as well as that geophones are Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, Den-
placed on selected structure for strain calculations. ver.
The placement of geophones on pipes, in concrete vaults, 6. City of New York, Department of Buildings. 1988. Techni-
on basement walls, piles or support columns, and vibration cal Policy and Procedure Notice # 10/88.
limits imposed thereupon, will not be allowed in lieu of moni- 7. Dowding, C., C. Aimone-Martin, and P. Abeel, P. 2015.
toring ground vibrations and whole structure response. Spe- Time Correlated Responses of Multi-Story, Urban Struc-
cial vibration monitoring requirements for specific locations tures to High Frequency Blasting Excitations, 11th Inter-
national Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting,
Sydney, Australia.

12 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

8. Dowding, C., E. Hamdi, E. and C. T. Aimone-Martin. 16. Silva, N.G. and V. C. Campiteli. 2006. Módulo de Elasti-
2016. Strains Induced in Urban Structures by Ultra-High cidade Dinâmico de Argamassa de Revestimento. Anais
Frequency Blasting Rock Motions: A Case Study. Rock do 2º Encontro de Engenharia e Tecnologia dos Campos
Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 49, No. 10, pgs. Gerais. Ponta Grossa, Paraná.
4073-4090.
9. Dowding, C. H., B. Meins, C. Aimone-Martin, and E.
Hamdi (2018) Large Structure Response to High Frequen-
About the Author
cy Excitation from Rock Blasting, International Journal of Chief Joseph Meyers is the Chief Inspector of the FDNY
Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, in print. Explosives Unit, overseeing all high explosives for commer-
10. Hamdi E. 2015. Analysis of Urban Structures Response cial blasting, explosives escorts, ammunition, pyrotechnics,
to Ultra-High Frequency Excitation from Close-in Blasting. and fireworks in New York City. Major projects under Chief
Fulbright Visiting Research Scholar Program report. 79 Meyers include the Macy’s Fourth of July, Times Square New
pgs., available at http://iti.northwestern.edu/acm. Year’s Eve, Kosciusko Bridge demolition, and over 4,000
11. Hamdi, E., C. H. Dowding, and C. T. Aimone-Martin. pyrotechnic permits per year. Chief Meyers has served as
2016. Strains Induced in Urban Structures by Ultra-high General Foreman for major NYC explosives projects includ-
Frequency Blasting Rock Motions; a Case Study, Rock Me- ing Port Authority Bus Terminal, 7 Line Extension, and the
chanics Research and Engineering, special issues on Rock World Trade Center. Chief Meyers is a national certified fire
Dynamics, in print. investigator, licensed pyrotechnician and commercial blaster
12. Dowding, C.H. 1985. Blast Vibration Monitoring and in several states, member ISEE, IABTI, IAAI, and a graduate
Control, Prentice-Hall. of Pace University with a degree in business.
13. Dowding, C.H. 1996. Construction Vibrations, Prentice-
Hall. This article was presented by the authors at ISEE’s 45th
14. Siskind, D.E., M. S. Stagg, J. W. Kopp, and C. H. Dowd- Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique in
ing. 1980. Structure Response and Damage Produced by January 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. This paper has been up-
Ground Vibration from Surface Mine Blasting, U.S. Bu- dated from its original version. The opinions and ideas ex-
reau of Mines Report of Investigation 8507. pressed are not necessarily those of the International Society
15. Paes, I.N.L. and Carasek, H. 2002. Desempenho das Ar- of Explosives Engineers or the editorial/publishing staff of
gamassas de Rejuntamento no Sistema de Revestimento the Journal of Explosives Engineering. See “The Proceedings
Cerâmico. Associação Nacional de Tecnologia do Ambi- of the 45th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting
ente Construído. v. 2, n. 2, p. 93-103. Technique” for full text and references for this paper.

Mark Your Calendar!

Hyatt Regency Denver

Learn. Connect. Exchange.

Leading the explosives industry in
education, training and networking

www.isee.org

Register Now!
Tel: (440) 349-4400 • [email protected]

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 13

Dynamite Daze

By S.S. “Bud” Jenkins, Jr.

Dynamite Daze was a series of embellished stories of the "good ole days"
written by S.S. "Bud" Jenkins. It ran in the Journal from 2002-2009.
Bud passed in April of 2010. This article is reprinted from the Journal
of Explosives Engineering July/August 2002 edition.

Laboratories were a big deal to the powder companies of Experimental grades and products that were offered for
old. In fact, some had two or more labs that actively worked price competition usually carried an experimental number. In
on explosives. These were the days when explosive depart- the case of the company I worked for the numbers were pre-
ments of the big three were cash cows that funded chemi- ceded by EL (Eastern Laboratory), Atlas used RXL (Reynolds
cal ventures like Nylon, Sorbitol, Herculon and other products Lab) and Hercules used HP (Hercules Product?). The technical
that eventually became self-sufficient in their own right. There service section set these numbers and as I remember we were
were the research labs that did the far-reaching searches for around the 700 mark when I retired. As an aside, I had a li-
new products and then there were the development labs that cense plate in Singapore that was EL-376. That was dynamite,
did the day to day study of dynamite and accessories. The but the little Ford that the plate was on had a small washing
company I worked for had two development labs, one for dy- machine type engine and so the car was cute but a long way
namite and one for caps and accessories. In addition, there from a big blast.
were labs at each plant to assure quality control of the prod- The lab where I worked for a short time was formally ar-
ucts made on site. ranged so that the engineers were separated from the people
The development labs had several missions. They were who actually ran the tests. There were a lot of degrees among
responsible for analyzing competitive samples sent in from the engineers including some PhDs. The lab staff mostly had
the field, developing formulations for products, testing new 98.6 degrees from Fahrenheit but they had lots of good old
equipment, setting standards for raw materials, assuring safe- horse sense that was absent in other places.
ty standards and assisting the plants in their quality control. The way it worked was that an engineer set up a program,
They were also the site for various technical training programs either requested by technical service or in-house, like a series
that both field and plant people attended. There was close of formulations, had this approved and then submitted it to
contact between the main office technical service section and the lab staff who scheduled and then performed the tasks.
the development labs. In many cases the programs were in- Sometimes, between the requesting and the doing it got in-
stituted by the technical service section and passed on to the teresting. The engineers were all vying for status, patents and
labs to perform the tests. bonuses so there was a level of secrecy sometimes that ap-

14 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

proached the ridiculous. Notebooks were kept meticulously The lab workers used 10-inch fuses to test products for
and carefully locked up to prevent prying. Of course, the lab velocity, water resistance etc. in barricades designed especially
test staff saw it all and if you could get close to them, they for testing. Some said that they were afraid of electric caps
could tell some great stories of what all the “fooforall” was but I think it was more a question of cost. Since the fuse burns
about. Now there were some real scientist types as engineers at about 40 seconds per foot there wasn’t much time to waste
and their input did much to make good products and safe in getting out of the barricade. There weren’t any accidents
products. As in any outfit there were some whose elevator that I knew of but there were some close calls. From this use
didn’t pass the mezzanine. As a geologist in a chemistry lab, I of fuse and that of poaching fish with fuse came the title of
probably fit in that latter class. my first book, Short Fuses.
My time there was when ANFO was starting to grab hold Like any other organization, mistakes were made and
and the emphasis was to figure out how to get around this sometimes they were funny. I remember an order was received
cheap material. Now with ANFO at $2.50 per hundred pounds for Nitramon in a spiral wound cardboard cartridge instead
that was an awesome task. We didn’t get around to making of a metal can that was normal for this product. The lab en-
prilled AN ‘til much later so the job was to find a way to use gineers sized the tubes and sent the specs to the plant shell
the grained AN which we made for use in dynamite. Grained house to be made. As it turned out the tubes were too short
AN is not porous like prilled AN so it doesn’t hold the fuel oil for the weight required. The question then was do you dis-
and it is much denser so it doesn’t shoot well by itself. The tries card the tubes or try to increase the density of the product.
went from using small amounts of grained in with the prills to The decision was to use a very high-density water gel instead
trying to pelletize the grained AN with absorbents to both of the Nitramon formulation and try to make the weight in
reduce the density and hold the fuel oil. None of these tries the tubes that were made up too short. Using lots of heavy
worked very well so the interim solution was to buy prilled AN ingredients like ferrophosphorus the products was up to snuff
from an oil company that made them. The final solution was weight wise. It was stored in a magazine to await shipment to
to build a prill plant of our own. the overseas customer.
Back to the lab, safety was a never-ending passion and Several days later you could see a black stream of water
rightly so but sometimes it got carried to the ludicrous. For running under the magazine door. The product with a density
example, you couldn’t carry a coffee cup without a lid because of 2 just couldn’t maintain its integrity. New shells were made
the coffee might spill and burn you. Well I can tell you that of the right size and the original formula was sent to the cus-
this stuff wasn’t the McDonald’s variety that is super-hot and tomer. A case of trying to save part, made a mess of it all.
strong. Whoever made this coffee according to some lab for- I guess there’s a moral there like - A short cartridge can
mula had it so weak that you could see the bottom of the cup lead to shellshock.
when it was full and at best it was tepid.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 15

 ChapterNews
Best People and The Crazy Horse Mountain Tour
group enjoyed the best weather they
Practices Came have had in many years! Sunshine and
Together at Best blue skies provided a terrific background
for taking pictures at the top of the
in the West 2019 mountain and seeing the progress with
the carving.
Attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and The Bob Martin Scholarship Golf
sponsors came together in Spearfish, Tournament took place at the Spearfish
South Dakota, for three days of valuable Canyon Golf Club. The top team in-
training and networking on April 24-26, cluded Steve Salter, Dyno Nobel; Donnie
2019. Fullenwider, Peabody Energy; Jared Fred-
The Best in the West (BITW) Confer- rick, WESCO; and Jim Spanos, Buckley
ence included a regulatory session and Powder Company. Proceeds benefit the
panel discussion, more than 40 exhibi- scholarship fund.
tors, three pre-conference events, great The Paul Muehl Scholarship Clay
speakers on a range of topics, whole hog Shoot was held at the Sturgis Gun Range
roast, scholarship presentations, awards at the Buffalo Chip Shooting Complex
banquet, and a live auction. and included lunch and award presen-
There were three optional pre-confer- tations. The top shooters were Jarrett
ence events held on Wednesday morn- Jarrett German (Epiroc) tied for first place at German, Epiroc; and J.D. Farmer, Buck-
ing, including the Crazy Horse Mountain the clay shoot event. He is pictured with Paul
ley Powder Company, who both scored
Tour, Paul Muehl Scholarship Clay Shoot, Sterk (retired – Austin Powder), who was the
event organizer. 88. The Most Chance to Advance award
and the Bob Martin Scholarship Golf went to Josh Hoffman, IME. Proceeds
Tournament.

Crazy Horse Memorial Foun-

dation hosted a mountain
tour for attendees to see the
carving up close.

16 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

from the event benefited the Paul Muehl drilling accuracy and planning, the cost RESPEC, Nathan Rouse, who generously
Scholarship Fund. Thank you to all the of a misfire, vibration control, blast re- donated it back so it could be auctioned
station sponsors and prize sponsors, and porting, case studies, underground re- to raise more funds. The Newbie Award
to MAXAM for providing the ammuni- search, blast fume diffusion, weather was given to Mike Jones, Brunner & Lay,
tion. and blasting, scaled depth of burial, who accepted all the “necessities” gra-
On Wednesday afternoon, the reg- computer blast modeling, and blast op- ciously. Special recognition was given
ulatory session and panel discussion timization. to Nancy Allen, HTA Enterprises, Inc,
kicked off the BITW Conference. Session Proceeds from last year’s BITW Con- for her successful recovery over the last
panel speakers included: David May- ference were used to award five col- year. Paul Sterk, retired—Austin Pow-
nard, MSHA—District 9, Gillette Field lege students with scholarships, totaling der Company, received an Appreciation
Office; Scott Narreau, Program Manager, $11,000. All the scholarship recipients Award for his decades of selfless dedica-
Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safe- are studying mining and explosives en- tion and service to the Black Hills Chap-
ty; Reo Barney, WY DEQ; Josh Hoffman, gineering. The Spearfish Holiday Inn do- ter, Best in the West Conference, and
IME; Bill O’Brien, ATF Industry Liaison; nated $2,500 for scholarships as well. explosives community.
Travis Dunkle, MT DEQ; and Doug Bailey, The Spearfish Holiday Inn has donated The evening wrapped up with a live
WY State Mine Inspector. The session $30,542 to the BITW scholarship pro- auction featuring auctioneer Walt Par-
chair and moderator was Mike Barber. It gram, contributing each year since 2009. tridge, Partridge Auction Services. It
was an informative session with a large Scholarship recipients included Seth was a fun and successful evening—over
attendance. Salusso, Montana Tech; Spencer Gor- $15,000 was raised! Proceeds will fund
On Thursday, excellent presentations don, University of Utah; Nicholas Ventei- student scholarships, given at next year’s
given by industry representatives, drill- cher, Montana Tech; Chase Carroll, Uni- BITW conference.
ers and blasters, students, scientists, versity of Utah; and Ankit Jha, SD School Thanks to the many people that
and engineers covered a broad range of Mines & Technology. helped make the 32nd Annual Best in
of topics. Up to 13.5 hours of blasters The Annual Awards Banquet and the West Conference a fun and success-
recertification hours were available if all Scholarship Auction was held on Thurs- ful event and one of the biggest years
presentations were attended. day evening and is a highlight of the yet!
Presenters spoke on a variety of top- conference for many. It is an opportunity Make plans now to attend the 33rd
ics, including: emergency management, to recognize contributions to the indus- Annual Best in the West Conference on
quality control, ATF programs, real-time try, eat good food, and raise additional April 15 - 17, 2020, at the Spearfish Hol-
hazard monitoring system, RI8507, new funds for student scholarships. iday Inn & Convention Center in Spear-
technology, blasting damage claims, The Supplier Appreciation Award fish, South Dakota.

Walt Partridge provided his auctioneering ser-

vices again this year in the live auction to raise
funds for student scholarships.

The Regulatory Panel Session included many in attendance and informative presentations.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 17

 IndustryNews
Calling all Students! Austin Powder Giovando became a divisional president
in 2003 with responsibilities for five APC
Special Call for Papers Company Announces locations: Stendal, Ind.; Madisonville,
Cleveland, Ohio, USA— The ISEE New Regional Structure Ky.; Reeds Spring, Mo.; Farmington,
Mo.; and Montrose, Mo. Over time, his
Conference Program Committee is
pleased to announce the Call for Stu- and Leadership leadership responsibilities expanded to
the oversight of 11 APC locations.
dent Papers to be presented at the 46th Beachwood, Ohio USA— Aus- Bob obtained a bachelor’s in mining
Annual Conference on Explosives & tin Powder Company (APC) is pleased engineering from the University of Mis-
Blasting Technique, the largest gather- to announce that its US operations are souri at Rolla and master’s in business
ing of its kind involving field blasters, now structured into two new distinct re- administration from Southern Illinois
manufacturers of explosives and related gions that will be led by Mr. Reed Sapp, University. He spent over 10 years in the
products, and educators and research- executive general manager – eastern re- coal industry working in numerous po-
ers, to be held in Denver, Colorado, Jan. gion and Mr. Bob Giovando, executive sitions including engineering, procure-
26 – 29, 2020. general manager – western region. Both ment, and operations. He then worked
This is an excellent opportunity for roles will report to Mr. Jason Rawlings, another 10 years for an ammonium ni-
students to network with senior re- president of Austin Powder Company, trate manufacturing company providing
searchers and professionals from aca- and will be part the company's executive products and services to the coal fields
demia and industry alike. Ideas should leadership team. in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West
be submitted in the form of a 200-400 "Please join me in congratulating Virginia.
word abstract highlighting the major Reed and Bob on their new roles,” said In his new role as executive general
points of the proposed 8-10 page paper Mr. Rawlings. “We are establishing the manager – western region, Bob will lead
and be approved by the student’s faculty eastern and western regions to strength- Austin Powder's central states, south
advisor. Papers addressing all explosives en our organization and leverage Austin central, western, and mining divisional
and blasting-related topics will be con- Powder Company's focus on supporting companies, with Brad Splitt, John Bur-
sidered. our customers in quarrying, mining, seis- rows, Steve Harris, and Jeff Fowler di-
Please visit ISEE’s website at www. mic, and construction with our national rectly reporting to him.
isee.org for submission instructions and footprint."
to submit your abstract online. Abstract Reed Sapp joined Austin Powder
submissions must be in by Oct. 1. The Company in January of 1997 as presi- Chris Wakefield
deadline for paper submission is Nov. 1,
2019. Contact Kim Gallen with ques-
dent, southeast division. In 2011, he was
promoted to corporate vice-president of
Appointed Site Man-
tions at [email protected]. sales with responsibility for the com- ager at Red Diamond
pany's quarry, construction, and seismic
Cleveland, Ohio, USA— Austin
businesses.
Powder Company (APC) appoints Mr.
Prior to joining APC, Reed was em-
Chris R. Wakefield, site manager-—Red
ployed by Atlas Powder Company / ICI
Diamond. "Please join me in congratu-
Explosives for 12 years where he held
lating Chris as he steps into the senior
various progressive management roles.
management role at our Red Diamond
Reed attended Penn State University as
plant," stated Mr. Dave True, Director.
well as Robert Morris University where
Mr. Wakefield attended Ohio State
he earned a bachelor’s in business.
University and earned a bachelor’s in
In his new role as executive general
chemical engineering and a master’s in
manager – eastern region, Reed will lead
nuclear engineering. He has more than
Austin Powder's Appalachian, Great
a decade of plant production and opera-
Lakes, Midsouth, Northeast, and South-
tions experience from working at Dow
east Divisional companies with Tom Co-
Chemical Company where he held roles
chran, Barry Anderson, Matt Landis, Bill
of increasing responsibility. At Dow,
Beno, and Mike Harms directly reporting
Chris led production at a solvent facil-
to him.
ity in Charleston, W.Va.; where his team
Bob Giovando, started his career with
completed specialized production runs,
Austin Powder in April of 2002, working
asset divestitures and various business
on special projects for Mr. Dave True. Mr.

18 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 From The
President
(Continued fromk page 4.)

committee can always use more hands be technically vetted, internationally re-
(and eyes!) to review the many paper viewed, and published for the benefit
submissions to the conference. Is this of all. Due to the diverse applications of
where your interest lies? blasting and the highly varied regulatory
The Standards Subcommittee may environments around the world, this is
be last on the list but it is far from the no easy task. Please call Doug if you can
least important! It would be extremely help.
Chris Wakefield. difficult, if not impossible, to advance I hope you have found this series of
the science and art of explosives engi- articles enlightening. I hope that you
projects resulting in cost savings and ef- neering without establishing standards have learned something that you didn’t
ficiencies. of best practices. During the course of know before. And most importantly, I
Wakefield began working at Austin conducting their business, many com- hope that I have nurtured a seed of pas-
Powder in 2018. As site manager of the mittees identify ways of doing things sion that will sprout into action.
Red Diamond plant in McArthur, Ohio, that are excellent examples of how to Thanks for all you do. Without you,
Chris leads APCs core manufacturing accomplish the various components of the members of ISEE, we could not
base of operations for North America. a blasting job. These ideas are passed make the difference that we do!
Established in 1930, Austin Powder's on to the standards subcommittee to
Red Diamond facility sits on 1,200 acres.
Today, Red Diamond is the largest em-
ployer in Vinton County, Ohio.

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September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 19

 EventsCalendar
September 2019 January 2020 November 2020
September 4 - 6, 2019 January 26 - 29, 2020 November 16 - 20, 2020
RAM Inc. Surface Blasting Course ISEE’s 46th Annual Conference on Explosives Japan Explosives Society
Rapid City, South Dakota, USA and Blasting Technique ISEM 2020 7th International Symposium on
www.ramets.com Denver, Colorado, USA Energetic Materials and their Applications
[email protected] Hitotsubashi Hall
Tokyo, JAPAN
September 15 - 17, 2019
www.jes.or.jp/isem/2020
EFEE 10th World Conference
Scandic Marina Congress Center February 2020
Helsinki, FINLAND February 23 - 26, 2020
www.efee2019.com SME Annual Conference February 2021
Phoenix Convention Center February 28 - March 3, 2021
Phoenix, Arizona, USA SME Annual Conference
October 2019 www.smeannualconference.com Colorado Convention Center
October 24, 2019 Denver, Colorado, USA
Eastern PA 3rd Annual Clay Shoot and BBQ www.smeannualconference.com
Coplay, Pennsylvania, USA March 2020
[email protected] March 10 - March 14, 2020
Conexpo Con/Agg July 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA July 20 - 22, 2021
November 2019 www.conexpoconagg.com World Mining Congress
November 5 - 7, 2019 Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
IMESAFR v2.1 Training www.wmc2021.org
Huntsville, Alabama, USA April 2020
www.apt-research.com April 15 - 17, 2020 For the latest events, see ISEE’s web site at
33rd Annual Best in the West Drill and Blast www.isee.org

November 7 - 8, 2019 Conference

5th Australia Chapter Conference Spearfish, South Dakota, USA
Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA www.bitwconference.org
www.iseeaustralia.org
April 25 - 26, 2020
November 8, 2019 USA Science and Engineering Festival
IMESAFR AN Module Walter E. Convention Center
Huntsville, Alabama, USA Washington, DC, USA
www.apt-research.com
May 2020
November 14 - 15, 2019
Pennsylvania Drilling and Blasting Conference May 3 - 6, 2020
State College, Pennsylvania, USA CIM Convention and EXPO
http://blasting.outreach.psu.edu Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA
www.cim.org

December 2019
September 2020
December 5 - 6, 2019
46th Kentucky Blasting Conference September 28 - 30, 2020
Heritage Hall & Hyatt Regency Hotel MinExpo International
Lexington, Kentucky, USA Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
www.kyblastingconference.com www.nma.org

20 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 27th Annual
Photo Contest
Give Us Your Best Shot! Bits and Steel. Photo by Don Kraupa.

EXPLO
ENGIN SIVES
The Photo Contest is Going Digital! Categories of Entry
Volume
36
March/A Number 2

EERING
pril 2019

Take your camera on your next job site and upload your best 1. Blasters and Drillers at Work
pictures. Qualifying entries will be displayed through ISEE’s social a) Individual Photo or, b) Series of
media channels and on-screen at the annual conference in Denver. Photos (Limit of 5 photos)
Voting will be open to all. The Best of Show winner will receive a
2. Construction Blasting
free registration to the 47th annual conference. Winners will be
a) Individual Photo or, b) Series of 28

announced at the annual conference, on social media, and in the Highlig

Annual hts of the 45
Photos (Limit of 5 photos)
36

Nashvi Conference th
38
P A G

Journal of Explosives Engineering. Visit www.isee.org for details. 6

E
lle, Ten
nessee.in

3. Quarrying and Mining

Rules of Entry a) Individual Photo or, b) Series of
A. Submission: Entries should be submitted at www.isee.org. Photos (Limit of 5 photos)
Entries should include an entry title, photographer, blaster-in-
charge, and a detailed description of the project. After agreeing to 4. Demolition Blasting
the rules of entry and submitting photos, entries will be reviewed a) Individual Photo or, b) Series of
for safety issues by a panel of experts. Photos that display unsafe Photos (Limit of 5 photos)
blasting operations will be rejected. 5. Specialty Blasting
B. Format: Acceptable files include tif, jpg, or eps at a minimum of a) Individual Photo or, b) Series of Contest Opens: August 1, 2019
300 DPI and 9x12 inches in size. Photos (Limit of 5 photos) Contest Closes: January 5, 2020

C. License: Photographers retain ownership and all other rights to

future use of the photograph(s) they enter except for the following: Voting
By submitting photo(s) to this contest, photographers grant the Entries will be posted on social media near the opening of the 46th
International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) the absolute Annual Conference in Denver, Colo. Attendees may vote on-site at
and irrevocable right and permission, to use, reuse, publish and the conference or via social media. You do not have to attend the
republish, and otherwise reproduce, modify, change or alter, and conference to vote. Voting is open to all.
display submitted photograph(s) in any and all print, electronic,
digital, social media and other media now or hereafter known, for Award
distribution, advertisement, training, publication, and promotion One free conference registration to the 47th Annual Conference
in connection with ISEE’s association services. Owners of the photos on Explosives and Blasting Technique will be awarded to the entry
waive any right that they may have to inspect or approve any uses with the highest number of votes overall as the Best of Show win-
made in accordance with the rules of entry. ner. Winners of each category will be recognized in the Journal of
Explosives Engineering.
D. Presentation: Qualifying entries will be displayed at ISEE’s 46th
Annual Conference in Denver, Colo., on various screen locations and
on ISEE’s social media channels. Select entries will be displayed in More Information
the Journal of Explosives Engineering. www.isee.org
440.349.4400
 EXPLOSIVES

100 years ago

(MORE OR LESS)
As much as possible, items are reproduced as
originally printed. Misspelling and usages now
considered archaic have been retained.

by Robert B. Hopler DIE SCHIESS UND SPRENGSTOFFE

(SHOOTING AND EXPLOSIVES)
BY ALFRED STETTBACHER
LEIPZIG, 1919
MISCELLANEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS

Nitrator Apparatus for

Manufacturing Nitroglycerin.

RBH Note: This book, in German, is a

comprehensive tome on explosives, cov-
ering history, chemistry, manufacturing,
and use of explosives and detonators,
both commercial and military. With 326
Extruding Blasting Gelatin for Packing in Paper Shells. pages and 141 illustrations, there isn't
anything lacking in coverage of the sub-
ject as it was in 1919.

22 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 ATLAS POWDER
COMPANY, 1919

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 23

100 years ago
Shipping, Hauling and Storing. desirable only where powder is to be a cap.
The shipping of powder of any kind kept on hand all the time. One can be • Don't handle wet powder. (Water may
is governed strictly by Interstate Com- built of brick or stone for a few dollars. cause exudation of free nitroglycerin
merce Commission rules. Any farmer We will be glad to furnish plans and or other explosive ingredients, causing
who makes a shipment should consult specifications without charge. headaches.)
his freight agent beforehand as to the The only vital requirements are that • Don't space charges too far apart in
regulations concerning shipments. the explosives be kept from getting too transmitted firing. It leads to dangers.
warm, and from getting damp or wet. • Don't try to fire charges with weak
Shipping. A notice of 24 hours is re- To keep them dry, the floor of the stor- caps or weak fuzes, either those de-
quired before delivery of the explosives age room should be elevated from the teriorated from poor storage or that
to the station. Boxes once used to pack ground enough to permit free circula- were not strong enough to begin
explosives must not be used for shipping tion of air, and of course the roof and with. Use nothing less than No. 6
any commodity again, under penalty of sides should be rain- and snow-proof. To strength.
law. Blasting caps or electric fuzes must keep them cool, there should be a ceil-
not be hauled on the same car that car- ing to shut off the heat from the roof, Thawing Explosives.
ries powder. Shipments of powder, caps with provision for free circulation of air
The chilling of explosives is hard to
or fuzes must be removed from the re- in the room with the powder, and free
detect by any signs on the surface of the
ceiving station within 48 hours after sweep of air between ceiling and roof.
sticks. Freezing, however, usually can be
they arrive there. If the consignee fails to An attic or a cellar is a poor place to store
detected by hardness, either in spots or
take them away, the railroad is forced by them. An old hog pen, chicken pen,
all over the sticks. In cold weather press
law to move or to destroy them. wood house or special outhouse built
the sticks with the thumb. If there is a
Delays in transit often are caused by for the purpose is good. In emergencies
uniform springy feeling, the chances are
the railroads not having available cars they may be kept in a barn for a brief
that the powder is not frozen. Often the
which conform with safety rules or by time, though we must record a warn-
hardness of freezing is accompanied by
the necessity of their having to observe ing against such practice. Even where
whitish spots which help to show the
other precautions. Buyers of powder, the insurance policies do not prohibit it,
frozen condition. The best plan is to be
therefore, should allow more time for danger from carelessness of children or
suspicious of any "high freezing" pow-
shipments to come through than would other persons should do so. Some ad-
der whenever the temperature is lower
be required for ordinary freight. vantages of magazines are that they are
than 50 or 55 degrees, and to take mea-
fireproof and bullet-proof, as well as dry
sures to keep it warm or to thaw it in
Hauling of Powder and Caps may and cool.
case it is frozen.
be done in any ordinary wagon, though Caps and electric fuzes may be stored
Although frozen powder is generally
a spring wagon is best. They should not together, but neither should be stored
very insensitive, scraping, cutting, punch-
be hauled together, even though the with powder. They should be kept in an-
ing or rubbing may set it off, though the
caps are carried at one end of the wagon other room, or another building.
same things happening when it was not
and the powder at the other. One should frozen might have no effect. Therefore
be hauled at a later trip. A little straw Cautions. A few faults are indulged
sticks that are frozen must be handled
or a blanket or two in the bottom of a in so naturally that they may be pointed
carefully, and as little as possible before
wooden bed will help to ease the jolts. out. If you find yourself doing any of the
thawing. On no account should they be
The boxes should not rest on projecting prohibited things mentioned below quit
broken, punched or cut.
bolt heads or other metal. The wagon them at once. There is danger in them.
Thawing may be done in the special
should be strong, and in no danger of If you find anyone else doing them, go
thawing kettles which we can furnish,
break-down, and the horses, or engine away from him immediately.
or in any of several home devices. The
if truck or car is used, should be kept most convenient for small lots of pow-
under perfect control. A runaway might • Don't smoke near powder or detona-
der is made of two buckets and a blan-
be disastrous. If stops are necessary, the tors.
ket. One bucket should be considerably
brake should be set firmly and if horses • Keep detonators (caps and fuzes)
larger than the other, though the small
are used they should be held or tied at away from powder.
one should be big enough to hold the
all times. Dangerous roads and especially • Don't let caps or fuzes fall.
sticks of powder on their sides. Fill the
railroad crossings should be avoided, or • Don't expose powder, caps or fuzes to
larger bucket half full of water as warm
passed over with caution. heat of sun or stove.
as the hand can comfortably stand, but
Storing of powder and blasting • Don't expose powder directly to sun.
no hotter, then set the small bucket con-
supplies on the farm or orchard often • Don't drill or dig out a misfire.
taining the powder in it, and cover both
presents a problem, though it need not • Don't punch or grind anything against
with the blanket.
puzzle one long. A special magazine is Thawing may be done in a warm

24 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

room, provided the heat that reaches Danger. ATLAS BLASTING MATERIALS MADE
the powder is absolutely under control,
Powder, and the handling of pow- ESPECIALLY FOR FARM USE
and at no time gets higher than is com-
der, is not particularly dangerous. Intel- Atlas Farm Powder. This is put up in
fortable for the skin. More heat than
ligent following of directions is neces- sticks 1¼ inches in diameter by 8 inches
this likely will cause deterioration of the
sary. There is no room or excuse for long. Each stick weighs about ½ pound.
powder, and may cause an explosion.
experimenting, "to see if it will go off A 50-pound box contains 98 to 100
The more slowly that powder is thawed,
or not." Powder represents an enor- sticks. These sticks are packed in 25- and
the less liability there is for deterioration.
mous force confined in small bulk, and 50-pound wooden boxes.
The ideal thawing temperature is be-
as such should be respected. If the di- Atlas Powder 50 Per Cent. This is
tween 70° and 80° F.
rections in this book are followed, there put up in sticks the same size and almost
Another effective method of thaw-
will be no cause for regret. the same weight as Atlas Farm Powder.
ing, though a good deal of trouble, is
Ninety per cent. of all accidents that A 50-pound box will contain from 95 to
the old-fashioned manure pile. This con-
ever happen in connection with pow- 100 sticks.
sist of a large box, with tight lid, buried
der are caused in just two ways—by
in fresh horse manure that is heating.
improper thawing of frozen powder, Atlas Blasting Caps. Made in two
Into this larger box, the box of frozen
and by failure to follow directions in different strengths —No. 6 and No. 8.
powder should be laid. About 24 hours,
the handling of misfired charges. The No. 6 size is made strong enough
at least, is required for thawing.
The above paragraph on thawing to explode Atlas Farm Powder and Atlas
Freezing and thawing, when the
tells how the one class of accidents Powders. All caps are copper tubes, 1½ -
thawing is done at a low temperature
may be avoided. We warn repeatedly to 2 inches long, open at one end. They
(slowly), should not damage powder ap-
in this book against approaching mis- contain an explosive sensitive to shock
preciably. Quick thawing may damage it.
fires before many hours have elapsed.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 25

100 years ago EXPLOSIVES INSURANCE
and heat and must be handled with the RBH Note: This farm handbook is Unmatched service
greatest care. Store them in a dry place.
If caps are stored throughout the year, it
one of the many issued by all the major
explosives companies in the early nine- and support,
is wise to buy No. 8. teen hundreds. Finding that the mining
and construction uses of explosives were No extra charge.
Fuse. This is put up in packages con- saturated, they determined that farm-
taining two 50-foot coils. Beaver Brand ing might be a lucrative market for their We’ll apply our 38+
is right for ordinary dry and damp work. product. years of explosives
Where considerable water is encoun- This booklet of 128 pages has all the insurance experience
tered, Clover or Crescent Brand should information a farmer would need to and top diagnostic
be used. Keep in a dry cool place. Warm use explosives for land clearing, boulder tools to your unique
before unrolling if cold. and stump blasting, cutting ditches for
situation and provide you
land drainage, making post holes, plant-
Electric Fuzes. An electric fuze is ing trees, and everything else explosives with a thorough evaluation of
a specially prepared "cap" into which could be used for on the farm. your protection, your exposure to
is fastened insulated wires, to carry an The excerpts that were chosen mainly liability and suggest ways we can
electric current. The wires come 4 to 30 show the state of transportation at the improve them Contact us and let us
feet long as ordered. Electric fuzes must time. Most explosives were shipped from show you how the AGA Team can protect you.
be used instead of blasting caps and fuse the explosives manufacturer by rail (a
for electric firing. They are made in the rarity today), and delivery by horse and
same strength as blasting caps with the wagon was still common. Maintaining
same numbers. For use where charges control of the horse was stressed as im- C

are to be entirely under water for more portant. As today, explosives and deto- M EXPLOSIVES INSURANCE SPECIALISTS
than half an hour or so, get special wa- nators were to be kept separate. Farmers
terproof electric fuzes. Electric fuzes are also had to be told how to store explo-
Y
The AGA Team:
packed 25 and 50 in a box. sives (most not having magazines, of CM The People, The Experience,
course), and to not put them in the barn The Service You Deserve
MY
Atlas Electric Blasting Machine. if another site was available. Also, as
These machines are made in various was usual in any literature on explosivesCY

sizes. The Atlas Little Giant blasting ma- prior to the late 1920s, a lot of stress had
CMY

chine will fire 5 charges at once; the No. to be placed on the dangers of frozen
2 U. S. standard machine, 10 charges; dynamite. K

the No. 3 machine, 30 charges; larger

sizes, up to 150 charges. Ralph Hamm Jr., CEO Fred Bangs, Pres Earl Taylor
37 + YEARS 30 + YEARS 30+ YEARS

Wire Needed for Electric Blast-

ing. You will require "Leading Wire" to Your Unbeatable Explosives
connect the blasting machines with the Insurance Team
fuze wires. This should be long enough
for the blaster to stand at least 100 feet Debbie Terry, CIC, ASCR
away for subsoil blasting, 300 feet away Assistant Vice President
for stump blasting, and 450 feet away Ruth Bangs, CIC, CRM
for stone blasting. With the Single Lead- Assistant Vice President
ing Wire you must use two wires to the Jana Burchfield, CIC, CISR
charges. Duplex Leading Wire has two Account Executive
insulated wires bound together within
another insulating coat, and is easier to Billy Bangs, CISR
Producer
handle. "Connecting Wire" is light single
wire used to connect the end charges of Melinda Trevino, CRIS
series with Leading Wire and to connect Account Executive
fuze wires that are too far apart to reach Matthew Morgan
each other. Customer Service Representative

800-875-9484
www.AGA-US.com

26 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

Influence of
Sample Rate on
Underwater Blast Pressure
Measurements
By Oana Meins, Catherine Aimone-Martin and Brent Meins

Abstract
Accurate pressure measurements during underwater detonations are critical for the protection

of structures and mitigating impacts to fish and marine mammals. Current guidelines that limit un-

derwater pressures are based on past studies, many of which used sample rates of 48 and 65 kS/s

(48,000 and 65,000 samples per second). These sample rates may be insufficient to accurately record

high frequency, sharp rise time blast pressures. As such, pressure thresholds associated with fish and

marine mammal injury or mortality may be underestimated, calling into question the pressure and

sound pressure level guidelines that govern underwater blasting today.

Open-water blast pressures were measured using up to 12 pressure sensors during small-scale

tests with blasting caps at cube-root scaled distances (CRSD) ranging from 16 to 145 ft/lb1/3 (6 to 57

m/kg1/3). Sample rates ranged from 5 to 5,000 kS/s. Recommendations were made for the minimum

sample rate necessary to accurately record peak pressures. Peak pressures increased with sample rate

up to a maximum between 1,200 and 2,500 kS/s. However, a rate of 5,000 kS/s is recommended to

accommodate the fastest documented rise times of 1 μs at the pressure front.

Pressure data for unconfined detonations were compared to full-scale rock excavation and pier

demolition rise times to establish minimum recommended sample rates of 200 and 600 kS/s, respec-

tively. These rates are based on the fastest observed rise times of 30 μs (microseconds) for rock and
9 μs for pier.

28 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 Figure 1. Pressure
sensor frames for
constant (left) and
variable (right) stand-
off distances.

Introduction cilloscopes (Yelverton, Richmond, Hicks, Saunders & Fletcher,

1975) or digital audio tape recorders to store acoustic wave-
This study involves measurements of in-water blast pres- forms on magnetic tapes of limited resolution. Sample rates
sure time histories for a series of small-scale, open-water employed were generally 24 or 48 kS/s (kilo samples per sec-
explosive detonations at varying cube-root scaled distances ond) (Ruggerone & Miner, 2008; Burgess, Blackwell & Abbott,
(CRSD) recorded at 13 different sample rates. The purpose of 2005) while few underwater noise studies employed 100 and
this testing program using unconfined charges was to estab- 200 kS/s (dos Santos, Couchinho, Luís & Gonçalves, 2010;
lish the minimum sample rates required to accurately capture Woodman, Wilson, Lee & Renneberg, 2004).
peak pressures from open-water detonations at various scaled These sample rates may be insufficient to accurately mea-
distances. This was accomplished by evaluating the initial rise sure fast rise-time blast pressures, thereby misrepresenting
time to peak pressure. Pressure wave front rise times for small- blast pressure damage thresholds that are the basis of current
scale tests were compared to slower wave front rise times col- federal blasting guidelines. Since these studies, data acquisi-
lected during project-scale underwater rock (fully confined tion technology has improved with sample rates in excess of
charges) and pier blasting (partially confined charges) to rec- 10,000 kS/s. This study demonstrates that higher sample rates
ommend sample rates for construction blasting. are required to accurately measure peak pressures during un-
Federal and state agencies charged with protecting aquatic derwater blasting.
species and underwater habitat during construction often re-
quire permits to demonstrate that peak pressures or sound
pressure levels will be maintained at amplitudes that are pro- Test Methods and Instrumentation
tective of habitat species. Blast pressures are often regulated Forty-nine small-scale, controlled blasts were conducted in
for the protection of fish (Timothy, 2013; Wright & Hopky, a lake using blasting caps at CRSDs ranging from 16 to 145 ft/
1998) while suggested guidelines for marine mammal protec- lb1/3 (6 to 57 m/kg1/3). Figure 1 shows sensor frames used for
tion are mandated by the National Marine Fisheries Service. sensor-to-detonator stand-off distances that were constant
The need for accurate overpressure measurements stems from (left) and varying (right). Constant distance tests employed an
the wide range of reported pressure amplitudes correlated explosive charge suspended mid-point in 6 ft (1.8 m) of water
with mechanical demolition and blasting. While many past at a 3 ft (0.9 m) stand-off distance. Variable stand-off distance
studies have evaluated the effects of mechanically-induced tests were conducted with charge suspended mid-depth in 20
pressures, few studies have addressed the effects of short du- ft (6 m) of water from a boat at distances of 6 to 21.6 ft (1.8
ration, impulsive blasting pressures. to 6.6 m) from sensors. All tests employed either one or two
There is a lack of accurate, quantitative data on blast blasting caps comprising 0.0033069 lb (1.5 g) of explosives
pressure thresholds causing physical damage or mortality to for a total of seven different scaled distances.
aquatic life. Underwater blasting pressure pulses can be high- Sample rates were varied among the 10 or 12 employed
er amplitude and frequency than other sound sources and sensors and included 5, 10, 16.4, 20, 25, 50, 65.5, 100, 200,
therefore require appropriate measurement instrumentation 500, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 kS/s. A total of 487 measure-
and pressure sensor frequency response. Hydrophones were ments were recorded using a Geospace hydrophone and
traditionally used in fish and mammal studies during pile driv- several PCB Piezotronics sensors shown in table 1. Pressure
ing, and data were recorded with instrumentation such as os-

Table 1. Pressure sensors

used in the study.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 29

data were acquired using a 1-channel, 12-bit blasting-type that higher peak pressures were detected at high sample rates
seismograph, a 4-channel, 16-bit HBM Somat eDAQlite, and and that at low sample rates, the actual peak pressures were
an 8-channel, 14-bit MREL Data Trap II with maximum sample missed. The differences in the recorded pressure-time history
rates of 65.5, 100, and 10,000 kS/s, respectively. shapes are striking. The highest sample rate, 5,000 kS/s, dem-
onstrates that the wave shape is not simple, with a very sharp
Analysis and Results: Sample Rate rise over 3.4 μs (microseconds) to an initial peak, followed by
the ultimate peak of 85 psi (586 kPa), 6.2 μs later. The pres-
and True Pressure sure returns close to zero after only 35 μs. The 20 kS/s record
Figure 2 is a comparison of pressure-time histories record- is shown to be grossly undersampled for this fast pressure
ed at three sample rates (20, 200, and 5,000 kS/s) to show change as the time between samples is 50 μs, providing only

Figure 2. Pressure-time history for three sample rates at CRSD of 101 ft/lb1/3 (40 m/kg1/3).

Figure 3. Measured pressure versus sample rate for CRSD of 20 ft/lb1/3 (8 m/kg1/3).

30 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

one sample during the main positive phase of the pressure most accurate or true representation of the pressure produced
pulse. The peak amplitude recorded at 20 kS/s was only 67% by the single or double blasting cap at that stand-off distance.
of the peak recorded at 5,000 kS/s. The pressure recorded at This true pressure was computed as 99.5% of the logarithmic
200 kS/s, with a time between samples of 5 μs, was shown curve maximum and is shown as the horizontal dashed line in
to resolve the general shape of the pressure pulse, but with figure 3. The sample rate at which the curve intersects the
only two samples between zero and peak. The waveform de- true pressure was deemed the inflection point in the curve,
tail and ultimate amplitude were missed. The peak amplitude which represents the minimum sample rate necessary to, on
recorded at 200 kS/s was also undersampled and measured average, record the accurate pressure.
87% of the peak recorded at 5,000 kS/s. Data and fitted curves for all CRSD tests are shown as log-
Measured peak pressures were noted for each test log in figure 4 and the inflection sample rates are shown as
and semi-log plotted against sample rate, as shown in open diamonds. These sample rates, varying between 1,200
figure 3 for CRSD of 20 ft/lb1/3 (8 m/kg1/3). Peak pres- and 2,500 kS/s, or 1.2 to 2.5 million samples per second, are
sures were observed to increase with higher sample rates summarized in table 2 along with the true pressure for each
up to a point and, where beyond, pressures remained a CRSD.
constant. Several fitting functions were tested against
this data trend, and the best function was found to be Sensor Frequency Response
Equation 1. There are a multitude of different pressure sensors used
where P is pressure and SR is the sample rate. Fitting param- for blasting, marine biology, and hydroacoustics. They can
eters a and b provide an asymptote at higher sample rates generally be separated into two categories based on usable
where the measured pressure is expected to converge at the frequency range or sensing element rise time. High-frequency

Figure 4. Measured pressure versus sample rate showing inflection sample rate at each CRSD.

Table 2. True pressure and inflection sample rates.

31 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

sensors, with rise times on the order of 1-2 μs, include those compared to 32 psi (221 kPa) for the high-frequency
manufactured by PCB Piezotronics, Teledyne RESON, and Brüel sensor.
& Kjær. Alternatively, others have rise times of 500 μs (zero- This trend was observed for all measurements at
peak rise time equivalent to 500 Hz frequency response). CRSD of 145 ft/lb1/3 (57 m/kg1/3) shown in figure 6
Figure 5 shows a comparison of pressure-time histories where the low frequency sensor data (open triangles)
recorded by low- and high-frequency response sensors at a fell well below all high-frequency sensor measurements
similar sample rate (50 and 65.5 kS/s) in contrast to a pressure at similar sample rates. The rise times of the pressure
pulse deemed accurate at 5,000 kS/s. The sample rate effects pulse (3 μs to initial peak, and 9.8 μs to ultimate peak)
are consistent with the previous discussion. However, the peak were much faster than the response time (500 μs) of
recorded using the low-frequency sensor was 11 psi (76 kPa) the 500 Hz sensor. Therefore, the low-frequency sen-
sor data were not included in the curve fit calculations.

Figure 5. Low-frequency sensor waveform comparison at CRSD of 145 ft/lb1/3 (57 m/kg1/3).

Figure 6. Low-frequency sensor measurement comparison at CRSD of 145 ft/lb1/3 (57 m/kg1/3).

32 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

Pressure Rise Time and Recommendations: Small-scale and
Number of Samples Full-scale Projects
The pressure pulse rise time to peak dictates the sample Rise times measured during the small-scale study were
rate to ensure a minimum number of samples necessary to ac- compared to rise times measured during full-scale underwater
curately trace the pressure front. Open-water pressure pulses blasting projects that involved rock excavation and pier de-
recorded in the small-scale study rose very quickly in as little molition. These rise times, plotted against CRSD, are shown
as 1 μs as shown in figure 7 for a CRSD of 47 ft/lb1/3 (19 m/ in figure 8, along with lower bounds for each blasting type.
kg1/3). Pressure-time histories were qualitatively evaluated to Also shown in figure 8 are the response times of the low- and
determine a minimum number of samples during the initial, high-frequency sensors as horizontal dotted lines at 500 and
rising edge. Pressures recorded at 1,000 kS/s did not define 1.5 μs, respectively. The fastest observed pressure rise times
the initial, short-duration peak, resulting in a lower ultimate were 1, 9, and 30 μs for open-water, pier, and rock blasting,
amplitude. Therefore, the 5,000 kS/s rate is deemed more ac- respectively. Differences in rise time and shape of the pressure
curate which corresponded to 5 samples during the 1 μs rise pulse result from the degree of explosive confinement, where
time (5,000,000 samples/s times 0.000001 s = 5 samples). underwater rock blasting is considered to be highly confined,
This rate exceeds the inflection sample rate of 1,928 kS/s in pier blasting within the water column can be partially con-
table 2. fined, and open-water explosions are fully unconfined. The
recommended sample rate for each blasting type was com-
puted as five samples over the pressure front divided by the
fastest rise time. These values are summarized in table 3.

Figure 7. Qualitative comparison of waveforms to determine minimum samples per rise time.

Table 3. Recommended sample rate for each blasting type.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 33

 Figure 8. Pressure rise times versus CRSD for three types of blasting.

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34 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

Conclusion dos Santos, M.E., Couchinho, M.N., Luís, A.R., & Gonçalves, E.J. (2010).
Monitoring underwater explosions in the habitat of resident bottlenose
dolphins. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 128(6), 3805-3808.
Open-water, small-scale detonations were conducted at doi: 10.1121/1.3506378.
varying CRSDs to establish a minimum sample rate needed to Ruggerone G.T., Goodman, S., & Miner, R. (2008). Behavioral response
define the accurate peak pressures. Small-scale data showed and survival of juvenile Coho salmon exposed to pile driving sounds. Re-
that measurements at insufficient sample rates can under- port to the Port of Seattle.
represent true blast pressures. Pressure increased with sample Timothy, J. (2013) Alaska blasting standard for the proper protection of
rate up to a constant value between 1,200 and 2,500 kS/s. fish. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Technical Report No. 13-03.
Douglas, Alaska.
However, it is recommended to use a rate of 5,000 kS/s to ac-
Woodman, G.H., Wilson, S.C., Lee, V.Y.F., & Renneberg, R. (2004). A di-
curately trace the rapid amplitude changes that can occur over rection-sensitive underwater blast detector and its application for manag-
a minimum of 1 μs. Minimum sample rates recommended for ing blast fishing. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 49, 964-973. doi: 10.1016/j.
full-scale rock excavation and pier demolition are 200 and 600 marpolbul.2004.06.022.
kS/s, respectively, based on the fastest observed rise times Wright, D.G. & Hopky, G.E. (1998). Guidelines for the use of explosives in
or near Canadian fisheries waters. Canadian technical report of Fisheries
of 30 μs for rock and 9 μs for pier. Each of these minimum and Aquatic Sciences 2107.
recommendations will ensure five samples recorded over the Yelverton, J.T., Richmond, D.R., Hicks, W., Saunders, K., & Fletcher, E.R.
pressure rise time. (1975). The relationship between fish size and their response to underwa-
Accurate pressure measurements are important when cor- ter blast. Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Report
relating underwater blast effects on fish and marine mammals. to Defense Nuclear Agency.
Undersampled pressure time histories can result in unrealistic
injury or mortality thresholds placing excessive restrictions on This article was presented by the authors at ISEE’s 45th Annual Confer-
blasting operations. ence on Explosives and Blasting Technique in January 2019 in Nashville,
Tenn. This paper has been updated from its original version. The opinions
References and ideas expressed are not necessarily those of the International Society
Burgess, W.C., Blackwell, S.B., & Abbott, R. (2005). Underwater acoustic of Explosives Engineers or the editorial/publishing staff of the Journal of
measurements of vibratory pile driving at the Pipeline 5 crossing in the Explosives Engineering. See “The Proceedings of the 45th Annual Confer-
Snohomish River, Everett, Washington. Report to URS Corporation for the ence on Explosives and Blasting Technique” for full text and references for
Emergency Water Transmission Pipeline Repairs Construction Project, City this paper.
of Everett Project No. UP 3148,URS Project No. 33756899.

September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 35

Mother Nature
Breaks the Rules
By Cathy Aimone-Martin, Aimone-Martin Associates, LLC and Kristen

Kolden, Alaska Seismic and Environmental, LLC

Figure 1. Distance of seismograph from earthquake epicenter.

Figure 2. Three components of ground motions recorded during the M7.1 earthquake July 5, 2019.

36 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 An M7.1 earthquake shook the blasting seismographs at 60-seconds are given in figure 2. The peak ground motion
the Lake Isabella Spillway Project at 8:20 pm on July 5, 2019. of the transverse and radial components were 0.989 in/s and
The M6.4 foreshock on July 4 alerted us to the possibility of a 0.924 in/s at frequencies of 2.8 Hz and 3.7 Hz, respectively.
second, more powerful earthquake. Alaska Seismic and Envi- The highest components for the earthquake and a rock blast
ronmental maintains several seismographs at the project and recorded at the same seismograph are plotted together in
we quickly modified the record time to 30 seconds in hopes to figure 3 to compare total motion times, peaks, and frequen-
record back-to-back events and reconstruct a full-time history cies. Finally, the peak velocities and frequencies are plotted in
of ground motions. A map of the epicenter and recording figure 4 to confirm that Mother Nature can go where man
seismograph is given in figure 1 showing a distance of 50 cannot!
miles. Three components of ground motion time histories over

Figure 3. Comparison of time histories for a 0.989 in/s, 2.5 Hz earthquake at 50 ft away with a 0.404 in/s, 18.5 Hz rock blast 346 ft away.

Figure 4. Peak ground velocity versus frequency for the M7.1 earthquake and rock blast near a structure relative to the US Bureau of Mine safe blasting
criteria for cosmetic cracking.

37 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

 Display Advertising Index
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Austin Powder ....................................................... OBC

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Motion Metrics ........................................................... 1

MREL ........................................................................ 35

Nelson Brothers ........................................................IFC

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Tread Corp ................................................................ 35

Next Issue Featuring:
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Conference Preview
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Leading the explosives industry in To advertise, contact: Dede Manross,
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38 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

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September/October 2019 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 39

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40 The Journal of Explosives Engineering September/October 2019

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