Experimental characterization and numerical simulations of EOD water charges

Water charges are commonly used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to neutralize Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). In the literature, studies mainly focus on water disruptors characterization and not on explosive devices. In France, this type of charges has mainly been designed empirically from qualitative experimental results. Moreover, their efficiency is often not quantitatively established.



This work focuses on three French EOD water charges: the Coupot (for “light” target), the Creusot (with a shaped charge effect for “hard” target) and the Bolot (typically for devices inside a car). Several experimental campaigns have been carried out in order to measure the main characteristics of these charges like free flight jet velocity or jet velocity behind a barrier. The pressure transmitted to a target, an essential parameter to estimate a possible reaction of the IED explosive, has also been evaluated thanks to an original configuration using Photonic Doppler Velocimetry on a PMMA target. The study clearly shows the difference of behavior between the three charges.

Experimental results for Bolot and Creusot are compared to numerical simulations results for free flight and impact on target. The results show the primordial importance of the liquid Equation of State.