Clive Jennings-White and Ken Kosanke ABSTRACT: All pyrotechnic compositions present some hazard due to their ability to produce energy. However, some compositions may pose an added hazard because of the combination of incompatible materials. The use of such compositions may result in more frequent accidental ignitions during processing or spontaneous ignitions during storage. Other compositions …
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Modern Rack and Mortar Designs for Professional Fireworks Displays
Marc A. Williams ABSTRACT: Professional fireworks displays, as well as those performed by volunteers, have for many years relied on equipment designs and techniques that were established before the turn of the century. The use of steel mortars, the hand firing of individual aerial shells and the use of wooden racks for chain firing of …
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The Semiconductor Bridge (SCB) Igniter
R. W. Bickes, Jr. and M. C. Grubelich ABSTRACT: We have developed a silicon semiconductor bridge (SCB) igniter which, when driven with a low-energy current pulse, produces a plasma discharge that ignites energetic materials. Our experiments have demonstrated that SCB explosive devices function in a few tens of microseconds at one-tenth the input energy of …
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Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Basics
Randall R. Sobczak ABSTRACT: This article addresses the theory and design of ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (AP/HTPB) composite propellant rocket motors. A discussion of the operating principles of solid motors, including motor dynamics, the combustion process of AP composite propellants, and basic nozzle theory is presented. Several grain geometries and thrust profiles are illustrated, and requirements …
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Aerial Shell Drift Effects: (A) The Effect of Long Mortars (B) The Effect of Pill-Shaped Shells
(A) The Effect of Long Mortars K.L. Kossanke, B.J. Kosanke and A.L. Bauer (B) The Effect of Capsule-Shaped Shells K.L. Kossanke, B.J. Kosanke and E.R. Mutascio ABSTRACT: Aerial shell drift is defined as the difference between the ballistically predicted trajectory of a shell and its actual trajectory. It had been speculated that longer length mortars …
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Observations on the Perceived Burst Size of Spherical Aerial Shells
Donald Kark and Marc A. Williams ABSTRACT: This paper examines the effects of visual perspective on the observed size of shell bursts. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes specify minimum distances from the shell firing positions to the spectator boundaries in the United States. This paper addresses observed burst size and elevation as a …
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Health Effects from Theatrical Pyrotechnics
Monona Rossol ABSTRACT: Theatrical pyrotechnics are potentially capable of creating ear-damaging sound, eyedamaging light, and airborne toxic chemicals. While damage to the ears and eyes can be dramatic and obvious, potential health problems from inhalation of the smoke are not so easily addressed. The best nootropics can provide a temporary boost in focus, also can …
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Electric Spark Sensitivities of Reductive Element—Oxidizer Mixtures
Satoru Amari, Kazuya Sato, Tadao Yoshida, Yojiro Mizushima and Fumio Hosoya ABSTRACT: Electric spark sensitivities were determined for mixtures of a reductive element and an oxidizer using three types of testers. One tester is a simplified electric spark tester which distinguishes high-sensitivity energetic materials from medium- or low-sensitivity materials. The other two testers determine the …
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The Nitrous Oxide Hybrid Rocket Motor
By: Al Jackson Technical Illustrations by Mark Rowley, Introduction: High power model rocketry has its charms, besides the sound of the outward bound. Flying a vehicle to altitude, keeping it together near Mach and finding it (after it has totally gone out of sight!)… in high power rocketry that can be quite a challenge! Recent …
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Glitter Chemistry
Clive Jennings-White ABSTRACT: Pyrotechnic glitter is characterized by a liquid spark terminating in a delayed flash. The chemical mechanisms responsible for the delay and the flash are not known with certitude. Several pyrotechnists have proposed hypothetical mechanisms to account for the phenomena. The different proposals engender different predictions regarding how a glitter performs as a …
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