Introduction to the Technology of Explosives [Hardcover]

Paul Cooper (Author), Stanley R. Kurowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 1996 | ISBN-10: 047118635X | ISBN-13: 978-0471186359 | Edition: 1

Introduction to the Technology of Explosives Paul W. Cooper and Stanley R. Kurowski Introduction to the Technology of Explosives is a clear and concise survey of the technologies and physical processes involved in explosive phenomena. The book is intended to provide the worker new to the field with sufficient background to understand problems that may arise and to interact intelligently with specialists in the field. The book covers the fundamentals of the chemistry of explosives; the mechanics of burning; sound, shock, and detonation; initiation and initiators; scaling in design and analysis; and off-the-shelf explosive devices. It provides the basic calculational skills needed to solve simple, first-order engineering design problems, and emphasizes the crucial importance of safety considerations. The book contains a broad range of data on explosive materials, and their properties and behavior, along with extensive lists of useful references. Example problems with solutions are provided in each technical area, as are descriptions and analysis of a wide variety of explosive devices. The book concludes with a thorough and comprehensive description of regulatory requirements for the classification, transportation, and storage of explosives, and an extensive guide to explosives safety in plant and test facilities. This book will be of interest to explosives technicians and engineers, government regulators, crime and accident scene investigators, and instructors in military, police, and FBI bomb schools.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Introduction to the Technology of Explosives Paul W. Cooper and Stanley R. Kurowski Introduction to the Technology of Explosives is a clear and concise survey of the technologies and physical processes involved in explosive phenomena. The book is intended to provide the worker new to the field with sufficient background to understand problems that may arise and to interact intelligently with specialists in the field. The book covers the fundamentals of the chemistry of explosives; the mechanics of burning; sound, shock, and detonation; initiation and initiators; scaling in design and analysis; and off-the-shelf explosive devices. It provides the basic calculational skills needed to solve simple, first-order engineering design problems, and emphasizes the crucial importance of safety considerations. The book contains a broad range of data on explosive materials, and their properties and behavior, along with extensive lists of useful references. Example problems with solutions are provided in each technical area, as are descriptions and analysis of a wide variety of explosive devices. The book concludes with a thorough and comprehensive description of regulatory requirements for the classification, transportation, and storage of explosives, and an extensive guide to explosives safety in plant and test facilities. This book will be of interest to explosives technicians and engineers, government regulators, crime and accident scene investigators, and instructors in military, police, and FBI bomb schools.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH; 1 edition (October 10, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047118635X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471186359
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Chemistry > Industrial & Technical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Introduction, November 9, 2006

By 

Paul M. Schumacher (Bohemia, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to the Technology of Explosives (Hardcover)

There are two negative things to be said of this textbook: I had trouble putting it down, reading well into the night; and, I wanted more.

For those entering the field of explosive engineering, this is an excellant first text. Having learned about shock waves from texts and reports written by those who created the field of explosive engineering, it was a task to learn on my own. Paul Cooper has written a book that makes the subject seem so simple and understandable I wonder why I had so much difficulty understanding these basics. This can only be explained by this text having been written by someone who knows the subject intimately, and has tremendous skills as a wordsmith. It is also obvious that Paul Cooper has put considerable of effort into this work, not letting it be published until it was truely ready.

It is well worth the price, and will be as great a value to the savant as to the neophyte in this field. An excellant predecessor to Paul Cooper's "Explosives Engineering."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent First Book on Explosives and Propellants, December 16, 2010

By 

DCop (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Introduction to the Technology of Explosives (Hardcover)

Excellent starter which covers the chemistry, burning mechanics, shock mechanics and scaling laws. The book does contain quite a bit of material on practical concerns such as example devices, storage, facilities and operations.

Unfortunately, this results in a limited coverage of more advanced concepts, but this is what is to be expected in an introductory book. It is not a textbook, so it is very uesful and does not leave the reader hanging on any subject. Paul Cooper's writing style is conversational and clear. The material on propellant burning in this book does not appear in his more advanced book "Explosives Engineering". For the reader new to the field, this book will probably be the best choice.