Originally Posted by
W.R.Buchanan
Det cord runs around 30,000 fps. C4 is around 32,000 fps. The rule of thumb I was told was that you pick an explosive that is at least 5,000 fps faster than the Resonance Frequency of the thing you are trying to blow up. I have seen a video of a guy using Det Cord to cut a piece of I beam and it looked exactly like it was cut with a torch.
I know that smokeless powder is affected by the pressure generated within its containment area, however the major explosive component in smokeless powder is Nitro Glycerin which is an Explosive. A quick search said Nitro when in an absorbent (dynamite) runs between 10,000 and 20,000 Fps.
My point here is there must be some "Empirical" way to measure it.
When I was younger and lived alone I had this little glass ash tray. everytime I got a new can of powder I would put a small pile of it in the ash tray and set it on the fence in my Foyer outside my front door. I'd light a match and toss it in and watch the powder fizz and burn. NO pressure to support and accelerate combustion.
I did this for years until I tried it with a small pile of Black Powder,, which instantly blew up in my face, and I literally looked like Black Sambo !
Never did that again !!!
Randy