Blast pressures and waveforms of consumer firecrackers

Abstract

Current methods for testing blast pressures produced by fireworks are ad hoc and differ substantially from established methods for assessing injury risks from explosives. In this experimental study, pressure-versus-time waveforms were measured as a function of distance from the source for four consumer firecrackers and one consumer bottle rocket. Pressure-versus-time data were collected at 10 MHz using a piezoelectric blast pressure sensor at distances 75 mm, 150 mm, 225 mm, and 300 mm from the source. While large variations in peak pressure were observed, in some trials, peak blast pressures over 100 kPa were observed, which suggests a risk of primary blast injury. The results support analysis of pressure waves produced by consumer firecrackers using established methods to quantify blast waves and to evaluate the risk of primary blast injury by comparing peak pressure and positive pulse duration to injury thresholds for specific body systems. Similar methods can be applied to result in comparable measurements for other firework devices.