Citation

Bjelovuk ID, Jaramaz S, Mickovic D. Sci. Justice 2012; 52(1): 20-24.

Affiliation

Academy of Criminalistic and Police Studies, 196, Cara Dusana Street, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Forensic Science Society, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.scijus.2011.07.003

PMID

22325907

Abstract

The method of choice used by most terrorists for achieving political goals remains the utilization of explosive devices and there is always visible evidence at a crime scene after the deployment of such devices. Given favorable circumstances, forensic analysis can determine the cause of the explosion - the type of the explosive device, the means of detonation, the type and mass of the explosive charge that has been used and perhaps provide information to lead to the identity of the individual who may have constructed or deployed the explosive device, etc. Evidence of an explosion may take the form of a crater or other damage which may provide some information facilitating and estimating the mass of explosive material used. This paper reports the findings obtained by performing experimental explosions of known charges on a concrete surface, in order to establish the correlation between the charge weight and the effects of the explosion. Known masses of explosives were fired and the dimensions of craters made by explosions were measured. Five empirical equations for estimation of the explosive charge mass from crater dimensions were used.

Language: en