Within the scope of countering the threat of improvised explosive devices (C-IED), home-made explosives constitute a major public security concern, requiring specific risk assessments for first responders, such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. These non-conventional explosives can be either mixtures or synthetics. There are hundreds of potential formulations, whose recipes are widely available on the internet. Key considerations are the availability of precursors and the ease of manufacture rather than safety, stability or even performance standards. This study aims to extend the understanding of selected home-made explosives compositions and predicting their effects by collecting extensive experimental data to feed into numerical calculation models. Theoretical predictions are validated using lab and field measurement campaigns and simulation models.
The Terrorism Risk Assessment, Modelling and Mitigation Seminar Series (TRAMMSS) is a virtual seminar series focused on technical topics related to terrorism risk assessment, and modelling, including blast modelling and response; IEDs; vehicles as weapons; CBRN; big data for risk assessment, security and screening; and associated mitigation measures.
Speakers
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Halleux, ir, MSc, CEng, MIExpE, MIABTI is a bomb disposal operator and Head of the EOD Safety Office within the Belgium EOD Battalion. He has served in Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
He graduated in 2003 as a Master of Science in Engineering from the Belgian Royal Military Academy and earned a complementary Master of Science in Explosives Ordnance Engineering (EOE) from Cranfield University in 2015. Particularly interested in home-made explosives, he is currently working as a PhD researcher at Cranfield Defence and Security.
Who should attend
This seminar is open to guests from outside Cranfield, who may work in academia, research, or industry. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of this seminar series, guests should be able to show that they are affiliated with an appropriate bona fide organisation.
Cost
The event is free of charge, but participants must register for the TRAMMSS mailing list in advance.How to register
To attend this seminar, you must register for the TRAMMSS mailing list via the online form. Further information on the TRAMMSS community can be found on the main website.
