Fred Ryan and Joe Daugherty ABSTRACT: The mechanism of sound production from explosion-created toroids is discussed, as well as progress in rendering them more visible. The toroids, or “smoke rings”, are easily formed by exploding a small charge at the bottom of a cylindrical barrel that is open at the top. The stability, self propulsion, …
Continue reading Some Properties of Explosion Generated Toroids
Category:JPyro – Articles
The main category – things that are published in the Journal
Reasons for Fuse Failure and Drift Distance of Spherical Fireworks Shells
Marc Speer ABSTRACT: This work investigates the reasons for the ignition-failure of spherical (round) shells. It further statistically assesses the probability that the resulting blind (dud) shells will fall within a certain range from the launch point. Keywords: fuse failure, shell drift, Magnus effect, interior ballistics, exterior ballistics, shell ballistics, blind shell, dud shell Ref: JPyro, …
Continue reading Reasons for Fuse Failure and Drift Distance of Spherical Fireworks Shells
A Study of the Combustion Behaviour of Pyrotechnic Whistle Devices (Acoustic and Chemical Factors)
M. Podlesak and M. A. Wilson ABSTRACT: Pyrotechnic whistles have long been used in both civilian and military applications. It is known that, under certain conditions, these compositions burn in an oscillatory manner and have exhibited a tendency occasionally to explode with great power during combustion. Based on the results of experimental work and a …
Continue reading A Study of the Combustion Behaviour of Pyrotechnic Whistle Devices (Acoustic and Chemical Factors)
Assessing the Risks — Suggestions for a Consistent Semi-Quantified Approach
Tom Smith ABSTRACT: Assessing the risks of an operation, the operation of a whole factory, or the consequences of firing a firework display has become a way of life. Much modern legislation, certainly in the UK, is based less on “prescription” and more on “goal setting”, which requires the risk creator to determine the nature …
Continue reading Assessing the Risks — Suggestions for a Consistent Semi-Quantified Approach
Color Purity Measurements of Traditional Pyrotechnic Star Formulas
Brian V. Ingram ABSTRACT: Pyrotechnic formulas designed to produce colored flames are well known, but the trends in color quality due to individual formula components are less well understood. This paper presents spectrometer work done to record spectra and processes them into chromaticity coordinates. Major formulas of the basic additive colors of red, green, and …
Continue reading Color Purity Measurements of Traditional Pyrotechnic Star Formulas
Thermal Characterization of Smoke Composition
Z. Abdel-Qader, Q. S. M. Kwok, R. C. Fouchard, P. D. Lightfoot and D. E. G. Jones ABSTRACT: The present work includes the thermal characterization of a smoke composition, the smoke components, as well as a potassium chlorate–lactose mixture using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry- mass spectrometry …
Continue reading Thermal Characterization of Smoke Composition
Review of: Ignition Handbook – Vytenis Babrauskas
Review of: Ignition Handbook Vytenis Babrauskas Review by K. L. Kosanke What an incredible reference text, especially to have been assembled by a single author. The book has 1116 large format pages (8.5 by 11 inches), is printed on high quality paper and sturdily bound, is well indexed (36 pages), is very thoroughly referenced (one …
Continue reading Review of: Ignition Handbook – Vytenis Babrauskas
Comment on: “Review of Pyrotechnics” that appeared in Issue 18, Winter 2003
Ron Lancaster In the late 1960s there was only Weingart’s Pyrotechnics, and it was a suggestion of a rewrite to the Publisher that led to my own first edition in 1972. As we have grown in experience there have been two further editions. It has been interesting to see how many little bits of new …
Continue reading Comment on: “Review of Pyrotechnics” that appeared in Issue 18, Winter 2003
Color Values and Spectra of the Principal Emitters in Colored Flames
W. Meyerriecks and K. L. Kosanke ABSTRACT: The emission spectra of many of the more important emitters in pyrotechnic flames were collected. For this purpose solutions and suspensions of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, barium and copper salts were aspirated into a propane gas flame as the excitation source. Performing instrument corrections and using appropriate data …
Continue reading Color Values and Spectra of the Principal Emitters in Colored Flames
A Brief Description of the Construction and Function of Common Electric Matches
Lawrence Weinman and K. L. Kosanke ABSTRACT: A simple description of the construction and the physical principles governing the function of common electric matches and some implications of these principles for testing and firing them are presented. Keywords: electric match, heat resistance, current, volt, pyrogen Ref: JPyro, Issue 19, 2004, pp66-71 (J19_66)