Consequence analysis by means of characteristic curves to determine the damage to humans from the detonation of explosive substances as a function of TNT equivalence

In a previous paper, the characteristic overpressure-impulse-distance curves for the detonation of explosive substances were presented. They allow the overpressure and impulse to be determined at each distance from the detonation. When combined with damage criteria (such as those shown by the Probit equations), the characteristic curves allow consequence analysis for this kind of explosion to be carried out in only one step, as the damage is shown in the same diagram as the overpressure, impulse and distance. In this paper, diagrams and equations are presented to determine the damage to humans (eardrum rupture, death due to displacement and skull fracture, death due to displacement and whole body impact, and death due to lung damage or lung haemorrhage). (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.