Explosive Effects and Applications (Shock Wave and High Pressure Phenomena)

I have a background in physics and have recently decided to indulge my interest in explosives. I started with Paul Coopers two books (Introduction to the Technology of Explosives and Explosives Engineering were Stage 1 for me ) and moved onto this one. So far I feel that I have been very lucky in my choice of books and order in which I have read them. By the time I got to this book I was up to speed and read the whole thing over a few days. At no stage did I need to stop and go off and research something I could not immediately comprehend.Having read this book I now feel I have a reasonably solid introduction across the broad field of explosives science including the history, chemistry, physics of detonation and explosion, testing procedures etc. . I have been introduced to all aspects of the science and been shown several quantitative models. My next stage (stage 3) will be to select the topics of particular interest and follow them up individually as a specialty. In my case this is the physics of detonation and modelling of effects but for others it may be the chemistry or production of insensitive explosives. In any case this book will be your starting point to select your own specific area of interest.This book starts the transition from a qualitative discussion to quantitative models which is where a scientific researcher needs to go. If you just have a strong amateur interest and a bit of maths and physics under your belt you will also enjoy this book.

excellent reference text