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A comparison of smartphone and infrasound microphone data from a fuel air explosive and a high explosive

Journal Article · · Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0028379· OSTI ID:2448540

For prompt detection of large (>1 kt) above-ground explosions, infrasound microphone networks and arrays are deployed at surveyed locations across the world. Denser regional and local networks are deployed for smaller explosions, however, they are limited in number and are often deployed temporarily for experiments. With the expanded interest in smaller yield explosions targeted at vulnerable areas such as population centers and key infrastructures, the need for more dense microphone networks has increased. An “attritable” (affordable, reusable, and replaceable) and flexible alternative can be provided by smartphone networks. Explosion signals from a fuel air explosive (thermobaric bomb) and a high explosive with trinitrotoluene equivalent yields of 6.35 and 3.63 kg, respectively, were captured on both an infrasound microphone and a network of smartphones. The resulting waveforms were compared in time, frequency, and time-frequency domains. The acoustic waveforms collected on smartphones produced a filtered explosion pulse due to the smartphone's diminishing frequency response at infrasound frequencies (<20 Hz) and was found difficult to be used with explosion characterization methods utilizing waveform features (peak overpressure, impulse, etc.). However, the similarities in time frequency representations and additional sensor inputs are promising for other explosion signal identification and analysis. As an example, a method utilizing the relative acoustic amplitudes for source localization using the smartphone sensor network is presented.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC07-05ID14517; NA0003920; NA0003921
OSTI ID:
2448540
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2475399
OSTI ID: 2574782
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU--23-72657-Rev000
Journal Information:
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Journal Name: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 156; ISSN 0001-4966
Publisher:
Acoustical Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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