| Abstract: | In the light of special applications, trials were carried out on the separation of steel tubes using commercially obtainable explosive cutting charges in an annular configuration in order to find out their cutting performance and the effects on the environment incurred during separation. Tubes made of St37 steel having a diameter of 220 mm and a wall thickness of 10 mm as well as tubes consisting of hightensile 15 Mo 3 steel with a diameter of 273 mm and a wall thickness of 12.5 mm were used for this purpose. It was possible to cut the tubes accurately and neatly with the charges used. However, the projectiles formed during the detonation process are not compact, for which reason the cutting performance of the commercial charges used is not optimal. There is here a considerable potential for improvement. Measurements of the environmental effects conducted during the trials (fragmentation, blast wave, projectile impact on tube line) show that the incidental effects of explosive tube cutting are controllable. |
