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An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching
du Plessis, M. 2025. An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/ab4e81be-be03-4500-92b2-9807a8306...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614000049553408 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Du Plessis, Maximiljan |
| author2 | Mahomed, Nawaz |
| author_browse | Du Plessis, Maximiljan Mahomed, Nawaz |
| author_facet | Mahomed, Nawaz Du Plessis, Maximiljan |
| author_sort | Du Plessis, Maximiljan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | du Plessis, M. 2025. An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/ab4e81be-be03-4500-92b2-9807a8306d3d |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132165 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:04.096Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132165 An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching Du Plessis, Maximiljan Mahomed, Nawaz Heise, Rene Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Land mines -- Safety measures Detonation waves -- Measurements Mines (Military explosives) UCTD du Plessis, M. 2025. An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/ab4e81be-be03-4500-92b2-9807a8306d3d Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the context of rising global threats, the mitigation of explosive blast waves holds paramount importance for protecting both property and human life. Notably, while terrorism-related fatalities have declined globally since 2016, incidents in Europe, North America, and Asia have surged, underscoring the urgent need for advanced protective measures. As costs of research escalate, this dissertation explores the cost-effective yet critical area of explosive minefield breaching, a method that utilises blast waves to ensure the safety of armoured vehicles in active minefields. This study probes the complexities of blast waves generated by linear charges, focusing on their inconsistent effects and the resulting "skip-zones," which are areas where blast effectiveness diminishes unexpectedly. Central to this study is the development and validation of a novel wireless sensor array specifically engineered for capturing blast wave data. Through extensive numerical and experimental approaches, including high-speed visualisation and three-dimensional blast mapping, this research investigates the fundamental interactions between line charges and their operational environment. Notable findings reveal the coefficient of variation in blast wave pressures increased from 3.93% in a straight-line configuration to 9.31% with multiple undulations, highlighting a 137.12% rise in variability, which impacts mine neutralisation efficiency. Furthermore, this work establishes a framework for harnessing advancements in SoC (System on a Chip) and MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology to develop systems capable of capturing precise blast impact data. The experimental system demonstrated a high degree of accuracy when validated against an industry-standard system, achieving a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a deviation of only 0.04 kPa during calibration tests, confirming its suitability for precise blast wave measurement and enhancing our understanding of blast dynamics and contributing to safer minefield breaching techniques. It was found that the research enhanced the predictability and efficiency of explosive minefield breaching, contributing significantly to the broader field of blast wave studies and providing valuable insights for both civilian safety and military applications. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die konteks van stygende globale bedreigings is die beperking van ontploffingsskokgolwe van kardinale belang om beide eiendom en menselewe te beskerm. Opmerklik is dat, terwyl sterftes wat verband hou met terrorisme wêreldwyd sedert 2016 afgeneem het, voorvalle in Europa, Noord-Amerika en Asië toegeneem het, wat die dringende behoefte aan gevorderde beskermingsmaatreëls beklemtoon. Aangesien navorsingskoste toeneem, ondersoek hierdie proefskrif die koste-effektiewe, maar kritieke area van plofbare mynveld-opruiming, 'n metode wat skokgolwe gebruik om die veiligheid van gepantserde voertuie in aktiewe mynvelde te verseker. Hierdie studie ondersoek die kompleksiteite van skokgolwe wat deur lineêre ladings gegenereer word, met spesifieke fokus op hul inkonsekwente effekte en die ontstaan van "skip-sones," wat areas is waar die effektiwiteit van die skok onverwags afneem. Sentraal tot hierdie studie is die ontwikkeling en validering van 'n nuwe draadlose sensorskikking wat spesifiek ontwerp is om skokgolfdata vas te vang. Deur uitgebreide numeriese en eksperimentele benaderings, insluitend hoëspoed-visualisering en driedimensionele skokkaartopname, ondersoek hierdie navorsing die fundamentele interaksies tussen lineêre ladings en hul operasionele omgewing. Noemenswaardige bevindings toon dat die variasiekoëffisiënt in skokgolfdrukke toegeneem het van 3.93% in 'n reguitlyn-konfigurasie tot 9.31% met verskeie kronkels, wat 'n toename van 137.12% in veranderlikheid aandui, wat die doeltreffendheid van mynneutralisering beïnvloed. Verder stel hierdie werk 'n raamwerk op om vooruitgang in SoC (Stelsel-op-'n-Skyfie) en MEMS (Mikro-elektro-meganiese Stelsels) tegnologie te benut om stelsels te ontwikkel wat in staat is om presiese skokimpakdata vas te vang. Die eksperimentele stelsel het 'n hoë graad van akkuraatheid getoon toe dit teen 'n industriestandaard-stelsel gevalideer is, met 'n korrelasiekoëffisiënt van 0.99 en 'n afwyking van slegs 0.04 kPa tydens kalibrasietoetse, wat sy geskiktheid vir presiese skokgolfmeting bevestig en ons begrip van skokdinamika verbeter, wat bydra tot veiliger mynveld-opruimingstegnieke. Daar is bevind dat die navorsing die voorspelbaarheid en doeltreffendheid van plofbare mynveld-opruiming verbeter het, wat beduidend bygedra het tot die breër veld van skokgolfstudies en waardevolle insigte gebied het vir beide siviele veiligheid en militêre toepassings. Doctoral 2025-05-28T10:19:44Z 2025-05-28T10:19:44Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132165 en Stellenbosch University xvii, 150 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Land mines -- Safety measures Detonation waves -- Measurements Mines (Military explosives) UCTD Du Plessis, Maximiljan An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| title | An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| title_full | An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| title_fullStr | An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| title_full_unstemmed | An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| title_short | An improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| title_sort | improved system for the measurement of blast waves in heterogenous environments tested on rapid minefield breaching |
| topic | Land mines -- Safety measures Detonation waves -- Measurements Mines (Military explosives) UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132165 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT duplessismaximiljan animprovedsystemforthemeasurementofblastwavesinheterogenousenvironmentstestedonrapidminefieldbreaching AT duplessismaximiljan improvedsystemforthemeasurementofblastwavesinheterogenousenvironmentstestedonrapidminefieldbreaching |