Explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices Overview

Forensic Investigation

Analysis of bomb scenes for evidence and reconstruction.

Secondary Scene

Location where bomb was created, often chaotic.

Steam Explosion

Explosion caused by steam buildup in confined space.

Oxidant

Substance that supports combustion, typically oxygen.

Combustion

Chemical reaction involving fuel and oxidant producing heat.

Propellant

Substance that burns rapidly to generate thrust.

Nitrocellulose

Compound used in propellants for rapid combustion.

Nitroglycerin

Explosive compound used in propellants and explosives.

Propagation Reaction

Progressive burning with distinct reacted zones.

Linear Burn Rate

Distance flame travels per time, measured in inches/second.

Deflagration

Subsonic combustion where flame speed is slower than sound.

Explosion

Rapid release of hot gases causing pressure increase.

Blast Wave

Pressure wave from an explosion causing damage.

Detonation

Supersonic reaction where speed exceeds sound.

Shock Wave

Wave produced by a detonation exceeding sound speed.

Sonic Boom

Sound produced when an object exceeds sound speed.

Pipe Bomb

Improvised device using sealed pipe to contain explosion.

Shrapnel

Fragments propelled by an explosion causing injury.

IED

Improvised Explosive Device, often used in terrorism.

TNT

Stable military explosive, requires complex initiation.

RDX

Powerful military explosive, used in C4.

Cell Phone Detonation

Remote triggering method for IEDs using cell phones.

Timer Mechanism

Device that initiates explosion after a set time.

Oklahoma City Bombing

1995 bombing killing 168, perpetrated by Tim McVeigh.

Boston Marathon Bombing

2013 attack using pressure cooker bombs by Tsarnaev brothers.

Unabomber

Ted Kaczynski, serial bomber with sophisticated devices.

Latent Fingerprint

Unseen fingerprint recovered from explosive devices.

Fragmentation

Breakup of a container during an explosion, creating shrapnel.

Pressure Wave

Wave created by sudden release of gases in an explosion.