Student Research

Student Research Projects

Below, you can read some selected student research project highlights. Contact us for more information at eliasson@mines.edu.

 

Underground Explosives Storage & Cost-effective Blast Mitigation

GRACE RABINOWITZ, MS-Thesis student in the Mechanical Engineering Department
MACEY BROWN, PhD student in the Material Science Department
LILY ROCKWELL, Undergraduate student in the Engineering Design & Society Department
AEXEA ALLEN, Research Faculty in the Mechanical Engineering Department

The geometry of storage areas and surrounding tunnels affects blast wave propagation.  We are investigating how wall roughness, intersection geometry, and shield geometry, and composition affect shock attenuation.  We will then see how said features scale between 1:50–1:1 and compare these experimental data to theoretical and empirical data.  According to the similarities/differences in the data sets, we hope to propose updates to underground explosives storage regulations (e.g., provide additional information to documents such as NATO AASTP‐1).

MNGN 444 students investigating different methods for passive shock wave mitigation using watered beads.

The photograph shows MNGN 444 students investigating different methods for passive shock wave mitigation.

MNGN 444 Students helping to build the mid-scale four-way intersection to study blast wave propagation and mitigation.

MNGN 444 Students helping to build the mid-scale four-way intersection to study blast wave propagation and mitigation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRACE RABINOWITZ, MS-Thesis student in the Mechanical Engineering Department
MICHALA LEE, Undergraduate student in the Chemical Engineering Department
MICHAEL OLIVER, Undergraduate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department

Schlieren photograph of a shock wave impinging on a flat plate. Copyright: G. Rabinowitz, 2021

Grace, Michala and Michael are working on an experimental project related to shock-shock interaction and shock-structure interaction. The students use an exploding wire setup, in which four 50kV capacitors set up in parallel, and a high-voltage power supply, provide energy that when quickly released will vaporize thin metal wires thus producing shock waves. This setup can be used to effectively creating one or more simultaneous miniature explosions without the need for explosives. The exploding wire setup allows for a fast turnaround, less than two minutes, between consecutive experiments and therefore it is less expensive and time consuming than performing computational simulations for multiple shock waves. For these experiments, multiple wires are arranged in various patterns such that a converging shock wave is produced after the wire explosions. Schlieren imaging and ultra-high-speed photography are used, together with pressure sensors, to characterize the shock wave focusing event. Grace is working on the transition criteria of regular to irregular shock wave reflection, while Michala and Michael are focusing on the interaction of shock waves with structures.

JAKE HASTINGS, Undergraduate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department
RILEY ROYALL, Undergraduate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department
MAGGIE MCQUAID, Undergraduate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department
FORREST BROOKS, Undergraduate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department

Photograph shows a circular disk made of ballistics gelatin subjected to a shock wave from a shock tube setup. Copyright: Jake Hastings, Colorado School of Mines, 2021.

Jake, Maggie and Riley are working on an experimental project to better understand the dynamic behavior of an eye when subjected to the stress and pressure specifically brought on by an incident shock wave. Here, in the initial stages of this project, we are using a shock tube to generate shock waves that impact onto a simplified two-dimensional eye model. We launch a shock wave onto the eye, and then use ultrahigh-speed photography, schlieren imaging, digital image correlation, and photoelasticity to study the dynamic response of the different parts of the eye. The eye models are made from ballistics gelatin with surrounding 3D printed eye sockets.

The long-term goal is to link the mechanical response of the eye to a biological response such that in the future it would be possible to understand how ocular traumatic injuries are formed from single or multiple repeated shock wave exposures.

 

 

Student Reports

The Colorado School of Mines Mining Engineering Department offers internationally recognized, ABET-accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in mining engineering and the geosciences. The Mining Engineering Department offers an Explosives Engineering minor program to prepare the next generation of explosives engineers. The ERL team works closely with the Mining Engineering Department to enhance the explosives minor program. This collaboration exposes students to cutting-edge explosives research currently being conducted by ERL and provides Mines students with hands-on, practical field experience.

Graduate Thesis