Using next-generation sensors to study underground explosions

Underground explosions are used for mining, construction, and weapons testing, and understanding how these explosions begin and propagate is important for understanding the accuracy of subsurface explosion simulation models. Part of this includes collecting data from experiments, which can be a challenging endeavor.

Wright et al. used specialized spectrometers and pressure transducers to capture detailed experimental data during an underground chemical explosion at the Nevada National Security Site. The resulting data will be used to inform future simulations and increase their accuracy.

Most similar experiments have been limited by the capability of sensors to withstand the violent temperatures and pressures created by the explosions. However, due to more robust pressure sensor design, the team was able to study the technique to measure a larger explosion.

“Advancements in technology have enabled us to successfully obtain pressure data from this experiment,” said author Andrew Wright. “The innovative pressure transducer technology has proven instrumental in capturing high-fidelity pressure readings, paving the way for the expansion of pressure measurement capabilities in future experiments.”

With these upgraded sensors, the team was able to capture a single frame of temperature data along with a few milliseconds of direct pressure data and continuous indirect pressure measurements.

“The temperature and pressure data will be instrumental in refining existing explosive models, leading to more accurate predictions of the behavior of subsurface explosions,” said Wright. “By integrating this empirical data into our models, we can improve their reliability and applicability in real-world scenarios.”

The team is preparing the second of three planned experiments, with even more robust pressure sensors and temperature instruments with higher frame rates.

Source: “Temperature and pressure instrumentation for underground chemical explosive testing at the Nevada National Security Site,” by Andrew Wright, Alvaro Cruz-Cabrera, Alfred Cochrane, Melanie Schneider, and Hakim Boukhalfa, AIP Advances (2025). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0267522 .