Home Made Explosives (HME): How to understand the threats and model the risk?

Within the scope of countering the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices, HME constitute a major public security concern, requiring specific risk assessments for first responders such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. An initial literature review helped identify current HME threats worldwide, i.e. the mixing of highly energetic pyrotechnics and/or the synthesis of peroxide explosives. Among potential emerging threats, Urea Hydrogen Peroxide (UHP) will be investigated initially, considering the ease of manufacture combined with the availability of its precursors.
Relevant experimental data will feed numerical calculation models. Theoretical predictions will be validated using lab and field measurement campaigns and simulation models. After initial chemical, physical, and thermal characterization, detailed detonic measurements will be executed using cylinder expansion tests in an attempt to determine coefficients of the Jones-Wilkins-Lee Equation of State (EOS).