Massive Explosion Research Articles

Comparison of the seismic loading of points on the surface of the Earth during a massive explosion in a mine

Comparison of the seismic loading of points on the surface of the Earth during a massive explosion in a mine

Geoecological monitoring during mining operations

In recent decades environmental quality assessment has become a fundamentally important task in the operation of mining enterprises. This assessment becomes an integral part of the strategy for determining maximum permissible loads for mining regions and is aimed at reducing geoecological risk in them. Technological processes of mining and processing plants generate emissions of various pollutants into the atmospheric air, lead to violation of adjacent territories. Monitoring, primarily of atmospheric air and soils, is necessary to ensure the ecological balance of such territories. Lebedinsky Mining and Processing Plant is one of the most significant sources of gas and dust emissions from massive explosions in quarries during ore extraction, which form a large dust and gas cloud, creating a risk of deterioration of the life of the population in the surrounding area. The article examines the main pollutants in soils and in the atmospheric air during mass explosions, and determines the areole of their distribution from the work site. The forecast of an increase in the concentrations of detected harmful substances for the next 50 years is given. A methodology for conducting geoecological monitoring during mining operations is proposed. The research results may be useful in assessing geoecological risks and developing measures to reduce them.

Abstracting the Battlefield: Designers on Evolving Mechanisms, Historical Accuracy, and Representation in Modern Wargames

How wargame and wargame-adjacent designers use mechanisms to represent combat, historical events, equipment, and issues like race and gender are more important than ever considering the massive explosion of wargames and wargame adjacent titles in the last twenty years or so. Increasingly, simple dice combat for unit elimination found in games like Axis & Allies and Risk has given way to more innovative systems like deck building (Undaunted Normandy, Osprey Games), corps morale systems (Chancellorsville 1863, Freeman’s Farm 1777, Worthington Games), area control (Twilight Struggle, Fort Sumter, Flashpoint: South China Sea, GMT Games), and more. Increasingly, designers not only have to wrestle with the age-old question of balancing gameplay mechanisms with historical accuracy, but also how to create that balance in light of new, innovative systems. This paper would be based on data (interviews) from several wargame and wargame-adjacent designers, and it would consider how they incorporate new and innovative mechanisms, and how at the same time they reflect historical accuracy. To what extent do designers “fudge” history in order to make a compelling and balanced tabletop wargame. This also would consider how representing traditionally underrepresented groups can be a product of an intentional historical inaccuracy, (i.e. black soldiers fighting alongside white soldiers in the American Army during WWII in Undaunted Normandy), or how members of these groups who were actual historical actors are portrayed.

Hospital MCI Response Plan Analysis in a Low Resource Country After a Mass Casualty Incident: The Beirut Blast

Abstract Objective Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) come unannounced, mandating the immediate shift from the daily routine to crisis mode through the implementation of an MCI response plan (plan). On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital, Beirut, causing 8643 injuries and 200 deaths.1 The private Lebanese American University Medical Center in Beirut has an an estimated 10,000 emergency department (ED) visits per year. The purpose of this study is to analyse the plan of this private hospital in a low resource country in response to a blast MCI. Methods A retrospective analysis of the expected outcome of the pre-existing plan was performed. Results Major flaws were noted. Triage was impossible using the START method and will be done outside the ED dividing patients into walking and non-walking. Identification and registration of patients was impossible. Patients will be assigned a number and be registered later. Colored jackets were created to recognize response team members for better organization.t Radiologic imaging will be ordered only when they change the patients’ disposition. Conclusion This analysis showed failure of the plan at different levels and adjustments were made to advance the plan. Periodic exercises and annual review are needed for continuous improvement.

Reducing dust pollution in the production of mass explosions in quarries

A method was developed to improve the efficiency of dust suppression and increasing of efficiency of energy of explosives in bulk blasting at quarries by using at the top of the borehole sealed shell filled soapstock (waste oil and fat plant) and water in the ratio 50:50. The intensification of the process of deposition of dust over the site of the explosion allows to reduce pollution the quarry site, which has a positive effect on the ecological situation in the region production and mining operations. It is established that with the passage of explosive gases through the shell with soapstock and water in the upper part of the borehole convective heat transfer from the gas shell and the loss of a fraction, the partial pressure on the borehole wall at the location of the shell. Due to the heat loss of the dust and gas cloud loses some of its energy, which leads to a decrease in the height of its ascent and, thus, prevents the removal of it beyond the open pit area.

Current perspective on artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning

Artificial intelligence has exploded in the past few years, especially after 2015. Much of it is due to the widespread use of GPUs, which has made parallel computing faster, cheaper, and more efficient. Of course, the combination of infinite expansion of storage capacity and sudden explosion of data torrent (big data) also makes image data, text data, transaction data, mapping data comprehensive and massive explosion. The wave of artificial intelligence has swept the world, and many words still plague us: artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. Many people do not have a deep understanding of the meaning of these high-frequency words and the relationship behind them. In order to better understand artificial intelligence, this article explains the meaning of these words in the simplest language to clarify the relationship between them, hoping to be helpful to the beginners. Deep learning expands the scope of artificial intelligence by enabling a wide range of applications for machine learning. Deep learning can overwhelmingly accomplish a variety of tasks, making all machine access capabilities available. For more complex applications, many implementations do not have to rely on supercomputing environments and big data. Data is indispensable, but too much data will also lead to overfitting. Algorithms are the key to solving learning problems. Efficient algorithms make artificial intelligence and machine learning less dependent on big data and supercomputer environment. Data, algorithms and computing power (computing speed, space) maintain a dynamic triangle in the implementation of artificial intelligence.

Shattered glass of Beirut: collaboration between the Archaeological Museum (American University of Beirut) and international partners following the 2020 port explosion

The Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut (AUB) lies approximately 3 km west of the main port of Beirut, the site of the massive explosion that sent a catastrophic shockwave through the city on 4 August 2020. A display case containing Classical and early Islamic period glass vessels was smashed against the museum’s stone floor, shattering 72 vessels into thousands of shards. This paper overviews how the Archaeological Museum (AM) responded to the situation with international partners to document, collect, identify, study, conserve and restore the broken pieces, and how this process of recovery would ultimately imbue the vessels with new historical resonance. In particular, the paper presents a collaborative project with the British Museum (BM) that developed from broader international-AM efforts. The partnership had three objectives: (i) to reconstruct eight of the shattered vessels in conservation laboratories at the BM; (ii) to provide training for a museum professional from the AM as part of the restoration programme in London; and (iii) to conduct scientific analyses of the broken shards before conservation. A fourth objective was realized August–October 2022, when the reconstructed vessels were featured in a single-room exhibition at the BM titled Shattered Glass of Beirut, jointly developed by AM and BM curators, in which the vessels helped tell a broader story about the port explosion and its effects on the people of Lebanon.

The origins of forward-looking decision making: Cybernetics, operational research, and the foundations of forecasting

The massive explosion of literature, theory, and methods on all aspects of decision-analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, over the past 20 or so years has brought a rapid specialization in each of the substrata of the fields that are using them. The sharp focus on empirical usage of these methods across applications, and the consequent trivialization from data only-driven improvements and multiple method comparisons, have diverted attention from foundational and epistemological concerns and questions, leading to pure empiricism — due to, but not exclusively, increases and availability of computing power. Tapping into the, equally massive, history and literature of the earliest developments from pioneers in the fields of cybernetics, operations research, and forecasting, we re-establish the links to the past on the origins of business and predictive analytics. Using interdisciplinary-sourced material we bring attention to the significance of these early developments and to the need for a return to these early sources in re-establishing our connection with the fundamental principles and questions that define meaningful, forward-looking, decision-making.

Extreme Horizontal Wind Perturbations in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Over South America Associated With the 2022 Hunga Eruption

AbstractOn 15 January 2022, the Hunga volcano produced a massive explosion that generated perturbations in the entire atmosphere. Nonetheless, signatures in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) have been challenging to identify. We report MLT horizontal wind perturbations using three multistatic specular meteor radars on the west side of South America (spanning more than 3,000 km). The most notorious signal is an exceptional solitary wave with a large vertical wavelength observed around 18 UT at all three sites, with an amplitude of ∼50 m/s mainly in the westward direction. Using a customized analysis, the wave is characterized as traveling at ∼200 m/s, with a period of ∼2 hr and a horizontal wavelength of ∼1,440 km in the longitudinal direction, away from the source. The perturbation is consistent with an L1 Lamb wave mode. The signal's timing coincides with the arrival time of the tsunami triggered by the eruption.

The Response by International Emergency Medical Teams Following the Beirut Harbor Explosion in 2020–Who Were They, When Did They Arrive, What Did They Do, and Were They Needed?

Introduction:On August 4, 2020 a massive explosion struck the Beirut Harbor in Lebanon. Approximately 220 people were killed and over 7000 were injured, of which 12% were hospitalized. Despite being weakened by an economic crisis and increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, the national healthcare system responded promptly. Within a day, International Emergency Medical Teams (I-EMTs) started arriving. Previous studies have found that I-EMTs have arrived late and have not been adapted to the context and dominating healthcare needs. The aim of this study was to document the organization, type, activity, and timing of I-EMTs deployed to Beirut and to discuss their relevance in relation to medical needs.Method:Data on all deployed I-EMTs were retrieved from all available sources, including internet searches, I-EMT contacts, and from the World Health Organization (WHO) EMT coordination cell (EMT CC) in Lebanon. The WHO EMT classification was used to categorize deployed teams. Information on characteristics, timing, and activities was retrieved and systematically assessed.Results:Nine I-EMTs were deployed to Beirut following the explosion. Five were equivalent to EMT Type 2 (field hospitals), of which three were military. The first I-EMT arrived within 24 hours, while the last I-EMT was set up one month after the explosion. Four civilian I-EMTs provided non-clinical support as EMT Specialized Care Teams. A majority of the I-EMTs were focused on trauma care. Three I-EMT Specialized Care Teams were rapidly re-tasked to support COVID-19 care in public hospitals.Conclusion:A majority of the deployed I-EMT Type 2 were military and focused on trauma care rather than the normal burden of disease, including COVID-19. Re-tasking of EMTs requires flexible EMTs. To be better adapted, the I-EMT response should be guided by a systematic assessment of both healthcare capacities in the affected country as well as the varying health effects of hazards before deployment.

Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients on hemodialysis in the setting of the pandemic, inflation, and the Beirut blast: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn 2020, Lebanon has witnessed its worst economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a massive explosion of its capital. Amidst these stressors, this study aims at assessing the prevalence of depression, anxiety, suicidality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive impairment in patients undergoing hemodialysis in an academic hospital destroyed by the explosion.MethodsThis cross-sectional study conducted 6 months after the blast included adults on hemodialysis, with no previous diagnoses of dementia or intellectual disability. It explores prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders, in addition to other medical and psychosocial variables such as frailty, malnutrition, sarcopenia, quality of life and religiosity.ResultsForty two patients (mean age 66.1; SD: 11.2 years) undergoing hemodialysis for 6.12 years (SD:7.22 years) were included. Anxiety and depression rates reached 54.8% and 57.1% using cut-offs of 6 and 7 respectively on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression rating Scale. 9.5% of the patients reported being in the hospital at the time of the blast and 7.1% reported being injured. 33.3% screened positively for PTSD using a cut-off of 23 on the PCL-5. 26.2% had passive death wishes and 7.1% had suicide plans, however no one had attempted it. 23.8% were found cognitively impaired as shown by the Mini-Cog (<3). Around two-third of participants were moderately to severely malnourished per the GLIM criteria. One third suffered from frailty, according to the FRAIL screening tool. Around 60% suffered from sarcopenia, based on handgrip strength measures. These findings contrast with “acceptable to good” quality of life subjectively reported by participants on the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. While one-third of participants participated in organizational religious activities, 88% reported significant subjective meaning of religion in their heart.ConclusionsRates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicidality, and cognitive impairment were found to be alarming in the setting of an urban dialysis unit following a major explosion. Psychiatric disorders were found to be compounded with increased prevalence of malnutrition, frailty, and sarcopenia. These findings urge healthcare providers to implement early diagnostic and intervention strategies to improve both mental and physical wellbeing of this vulnerable population, in similar settings.

Reaction of the Underground Water to Seismic Impact from Industrial Explosions

A comprehensive monitoring at the territory of the Korobkovskoe and Lebedinskoe iron ore deposits of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA), which are developed using explosive technologies, has been carried out since July 2019 near the town of Gubkin (Belgorod Region, Russia). A unique database of the responses of the system “reservoir–well” to short-delay explosions in a mine and a quarry has been formed with a sampling rate of 200 Hz on the basis of synchronous seismic, barometric, and precision hydrogeological measurements. The research object is groundwater in the zones of exogenous weathering and tectonic fracturing of the ore-crystalline basement of the Archean-Proterozoic. Processing hydrogeological responses to mass explosions in the mine and the quarry made it possible to indicate two types of water level response to seismic impact. In addition to coseismic variations in the pore pressure in the system “reservoir–well” for the first time postseismic hydrogeological effects were established during the exploitation of the iron ore deposits. The observed effects may have been caused by two mechanisms. The first mechanism is represented by the skin effect—a change in the permeability of a fluid-saturated reservoir in the near-wellbore space. The second one is the renewal of existing fracture systems and the formation of technogenic fractures in the zones of lithological-stratigraphic contacts and faults at the interface between weathered and relatively monolithic rocks. The subsequent decrease of the water level in the well is associated with the filling of the fractured zones with water.

Determination of the lifting height of dust particles after a mass explosion in an iron ore open pit

Open pit mining is accompanied by emissions of fine dust and hazardous gases into the atmosphere. This is related to the operation of open pit transport, drilling and blasting operations. The release of harmful components into the quarry space and the increase in their concentrations has a negative impact on the health of working personnel and leads to pollution of the environment. In doing so, the nature of fine dust and gases pollution depends on the mining technology and meteorological factors. The problem of reduced effectiveness of dust suppression methods after mass explosions in open pits is relate to insufficient research into the formation of dust and gas cloud. Additional theoretical and experimental research into the dust dynamics of blasting operations is therefore need. The article discusses the stages of formation of the dust and gas cloud after a mass explosion in an iron ore open pit. The results of experimental studies of the evolution of the dust and gas cloud at different points in time after the detonation of borehole charges are presented. Relations for determination of density and dynamic viscosity of gases, gas mixture and gas-dust aerosol are given. A formula for determining the time and height of ascent of spherical dust particles at the dynamic stage of dust and gas cloud formation is obtain. In this case, the assumption is madid that there is no mutual influence of the dynamic and thermal factors after detonation of the charges. The elevation of dust particles due to temperature differences during the heat stage of dust and gas cloud formation is determined. Based on the analysis of the calculation results, the duration of the dynamic stage of cloud formation is determined. It is established that, following the release of solid and gaseous detonation products into the atmosphere, a height distribution of dust particles is observed as a function of their diameter. That said during, the dynamic stage of dust and gas cloud formation, the height of dust particle lift is directly proportional to their diameter, while during the heat stage the inverse relationship is observe. That at the beginning of the thermal stage the deposition of coarse dust particles takes place are established. In this process, fine dust particles rise to a maximum height and are then carried outside the open pit by the airflow.

Management of the 4th of August explosion in an orthopedics department

Abstract Mass casualty incidents (MCI) are rare, large-scale events that result in heavy damage to people and infrastructure. These types of incidents result in a high influx of patients in local hospitals. In Beirut, this was witnessed on the 4th of August. A massive explosion took place in Lebanon’s capital city Beirut. Although Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital was damaged, it played a crucial role in the management of numerous injured, especially in the orthopedics department. Six months later, the hospital contacted all patients that had been hospitalized during that night and the following 2 days for musculoskeletal injuries. The contact was done for feedback purposes as the event was considered one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in international history. Accordingly, most of the patients that were contacted gave a credible and positive rating. There were few who had suggestions for management improvement. MCIs are rare, but it is crucial to be prepared to face any edging situation. Having effective communication and an organized plan in any risk management process are essential tools to foster for the well of the community and to scale down the losses of the locals in the area.

Investigation of the patterns of collapse formation and determination of optimal parameters of the retaining wall during mass explosions at quarries

The paper describes methods developed to determine the change in the width and height of the collapse of blasted rocks, as well as the width and height of the retaining wall during the explosion of borehole charges using emulsion explosives depending on the parameters that determine the energy characteristics of emulsion explosives. It gives the details of the physical and mechanical properties of rocks and the parameters of the explosive block, a mathematical model describing the action of an explosion of a borehole explosive charge in an array, on the basis of which the kinematic parameters of rock expansion are determined.

Wireless Sensor Network-based Detection of Poisonous Gases Using Principal Component Analysis

This work utilizes a statistical approach of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) towards the detection of Methane (CH4)-Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning occurring in coal mines, forest fires, drainage systems etc. where the CH4 and CO emissions are very high in closed buildings or confined spaces during oxidation processes. Both methane and carbon monoxide are highly toxic, colorless and odorless gases. Both of the gases have their own toxic levels to be detected. But during their combined presence, the toxicity of the either one goes unidentified may be due to their low levels which may lead to an explosion. By using PCA, the correlation of CO and CH4 data is carried out and by identifying the areas of high correlation (along the principal component axis) the explosion suppression action can be triggered earlier thus avoiding adverse effects of massive explosions. Wireless Sensor Network is deployed and simulations are carried with heterogeneous sensors (Carbon Monoxide and Methane sensors) in NS-2 Mannasim framework. The rise in the value of CO even when CH4 is below the toxic level may become hazardous to the people around. Thus our proposed methodology will detect the combined presence of both the gases (CH4 and CO) and provide an early warning in order to avoid any human losses or toxic effects.

Physical and chemical analysis of Beirut ammonium nitrate blast: A concern of particulate matter in atmosphere

Chemical disasters are caused by improper management, handling, transportation, and sudden accidents. The massive explosion of ammonium nitrate silo in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, has threatened the world with the loss of 220 people, about 6500 injuries, huge property loss, and environmental contamination. This paper aims to summarize the major ammonium nitrate accidents in the past 100 years in the world. We analyzed the accidents in terms of frequency, causes, property loss, and deaths. We reported 43 accidents in which 7 accidents triggered more than 100 casualties. Altogether seven terrorist attacks with ammonium nitrate are reported leading to the death of 411 people and huge loss of assets. The explosion releases a large amount of energy and produces a variety of gases along with nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and a lot of particulate matter (PM), which significantly contributes to air pollution. The size and amount of PM imposes negative impact on environment like low visibility, decreased solar radiation and adverse health impacts like chronic respiratory, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and other human diseases. Proper management and safety measures with stringent regulations at national and international level is warranted for the safe and sustainable use of industrial chemicals.

SEISMICITY of the RUSSIAN PART of EAST EUROPEAN PLATFORM and ADJACENT TERRITORIES in 2016–2017

Seismic observations by 46 stationary seismic stations, including seven temporary seismic stations located in the area of Novovoronezh and Kursk nuclear power plants, and by two arrays were carried out on the Russian territory of the East European Platform. A feature of seismicity in 2016–2017 is a manifestation of swarms of weak earthquakes in the northwest in the Leningrad region and the adjacent territory of Finland, as well as earthquakes on the Ukrainian Shield with Мs(est.)=3.8 in Krivoy Rog, where mass explosions are carried out in mines, but earthquakes of moderate magnitude МL=2.6–3.9 also occur (2007, 2013). Weak earthquakes in the peripheral parts (in the southwest, west and northwest) and in zones associated with paleorift structures: in the northeast – with the Kirov-Kazhim and Central Russian aulacogenes continue to be recorded. Weaker natural seismicity with ML≤2.5 was recorded in Karelia and the regions bordering Finland, near the Kandalaksha Bay, near the Khibiny and Lovozero massifs on the Kola Peninsula and in the territory of the Voronezh crystalline massif.

Yield Estimation of the August 2020 Beirut Explosion by Using Physics‐Based Propagation Simulations of Regional Infrasound

AbstractThe August 2020 Beirut explosion is the largest single‐fired ammonium nitrate explosion documented in history. The massive explosion excited loud infrasound in the atmosphere, and clear waveforms were recorded by a regional infrasound array at an epicentral distance of 100 km, allowing for accurate measurements of explosion energy. We estimate the explosion size based on the infrasound waveform inversion. Unlike conventional inversions using empirical models, we perform full 3‐D finite‐difference simulations to obtain a physics‐based propagation model for the inversion. Accurate numerical modeling of infrasound is challenging as the propagation is substantially affected by the turbulent atmosphere. Instead of a single deterministic prediction, we provide a range of waveform predictions by running multiple simulations with stochastic weather forecast models, which allows for comprehensive uncertainty analysis of numerical modeling and estimated yields. Finally, we expand the yield estimation technique for seismoacoustic analysis and demonstrate the substantial advantage of the joint approach.

Automated data validation: An industrial experience report

There has been a massive explosion of data generated by customers and retained by companies in the last decade. However, there is a significant mismatch between the increasing volume of data and the lack of automation methods and tools. The lack of best practices in data science programming may lead to software quality degradation, release schedule slippage, and budget overruns. To mitigate these concerns, we would like to bring software engineering best practices into data science. Specifically, we focus on automated data validation in the data preparation phase of the software development life cycle.This paper studies a real-world industrial case and applies software engineering best practices to develop an automated test harness called RESTORE. We release RESTORE as an open-source R package. Our experience report, done on the geodemographic data, shows that RESTORE enables efficient and effective detection of errors injected during the data preparation phase. RESTORE also significantly reduced the cost of testing. We hope that the community benefits from the open-source project and the practical advice based on our experience.