Item: ON MEASUREMENTS OF OPERATIONAL AVALANCHE CONTROL EXPLOSIONS
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Title: ON MEASUREMENTS OF OPERATIONAL AVALANCHE CONTROL EXPLOSIONS
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Benjamin Meier [ Wyssen Avalanche Control AG, Reichenbach, Switzerland ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: In operational remote avalanche control systems (RACS) various types of explosives can be used. People using these systems are mostly concerned about reliability and consistent performance. To provide the end user information about the performance of every individual shot, Wyssen Avalanche Control AG developed a pressure sensor for their RACS that can record the pressure wave with reasonable accuracy. This contribution shows the result of the pilot phase of sensor development in which 250 such sensors were installed on operational RACS. The resulting 1744 explosions that were measured in one season now already comprise one of the largest datasets of explosives used in avalanche control. Since in all Wyssen RACS the distance of the deployment box to the exploding charge is at a fixed 6m, the sensor distance was the same for all direct measurements. At that distance the sensors can measure the full effect of a 5kg explosive charge, while maintaining the sensitivity and resolution to measure the wave of a single detonator. This gives the unique capability to record the effects of failed charges. While it is quickly clear from the recordings if a charge did not properly and fully detonate, the energy of a failed charge was often not limited to the energy of the two detonators. Surprisingly, in many cases at least a small portion of the explosive charge detonated. Such effects were mostly measured with emulsion type explosives that were used beyond their expiration date. While the measurements are of great value for quality control, the sensor placement is not ideal from a scientific viewpoint. The sensors are mounted near highly reflective surfaces; this results in all measurements showing clear effects of these reflections. However, we were able to roughly identify the factor for the different sensor placements and correct for the effect. The RACS for the pilot phase were selected such that the pressure sensors were exposed to different kinds of explosives. Analyzing the recordings we can see no significant difference between powder-explosives, emulsions and the Wyssen 2K binary explosives. Only the fuel-rich explosive Composition-B differs by having a unique waveform, which is addressed by analyzing these separately.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P3.34.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099166
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Benjamin Meier
Keywords: Explosives, Pressure, Shockwave, Experiments
Page Number(s): 1475 - 1480
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