For the first time, the population of nitro group is defined as the ability to attract electrons (��) and a criterion for measuring sensitivity of nitro compounds in this paper. The larger �� is, the less sensitivity will be. The effects of amino groups of different positions and quantity on C-NO2 bonds are studied systematically at B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) level. The results indicate that: (1) For amino and nitro substitutes of alkanes, the effects of amino groups on C-NO2 bond are inductive effects and spatial effects, and these effects will be very weak when the amino group and nitro groups are separated by more than 2 carbon atoms. (2) For amino and nitro substitutes of ethylene, amino group on No.1 position weakens C-NO2 bond, on No.2 position strengthens it: the more amino groups, the shorter C-NO2 bond, the stronger electro-negativity on carbon atom of C-NO2 bond, the longer the bond length of C=C, the more ��. That is to say, amino group is a very strong donor of electron and in the whole molecule the configuration effect is very large. (3) For amino and nitro substitutes of 1,3-butadiene, effects on C-NO2 bond occurred by amino groups are kin to orientation effect on benzene ring when hydrogen bonds are not formed by H atoms in amino groups and O atoms in nitro groups; but the effects above will be weakened if hydrogen bonds formed (the stronger hydrogen bonds, the weaker C-NO2 bond).

The technique of forming a high velocity projectile at over 10 km sec-1 from a shaped charge jet was applied to produce a projectile at about 7 km sec-1. The velocity was easily obtained by using conventional launchers, e.g. a two stage light gas gun. The result of this study is to be effectively used to evaluate the penetration performance of the two types of the projectiles that have the same approximate velocity. The type of explosive used was changed to TNT from octol. The liner angle was 40 degree, the liner thickness 4.2 mm, and the height of cone part of the inhibitor was 13.4 mm with a hole diameter for the inhibitor at 20.0 mm. The resulting projectile had the velocity of 7.5 km sec-1 and the mass of 1.4 gram.

Since the detonation properties of ANFO depend on confinement, this study investigates the detonation properties of ANFO with weak confinement tubes. In PMMA tubes, the detonation velocities of ANFO increased with an increase in wall thickness. The detonation velocity differed in four types of resins (PMMA, PVC, PC, and PP), and was related to the dynamic properties of the tube material. These confinement effects could well depend on the long reaction zone of ANFO and be influenced by the rarefaction wave from the outer and inner wall of the resin tubes. The detonation of ANFO using the PE and glass tubes failed and it was found from high-speed photography observations that the detonation behaviour was influenced by the properties of tube materials.

There were six quarry sites owned in separate companies, which were lined together on a shore side in the north of Kyusyu in Japan. During 1998 to 2000, fly-rock incidents by blasting occurred at three quarries in there. Even worse, those occurred at a time continuously every year, and worse still, two of those were located next to each other. There were some site facilities within each quarry site concerned and some offices with the parking space, a factory or a shop, etc. around them. Fly-rocks by blasting injured and damaged to a blaster in charge on evacuation on the site and a pickup truck stopping at his side, a factory employee driving a car and it�fs body, the roof of a factory building, a truck parking at a the shop and etc.

An author got an opportunity to inspect then blasting situation the later on-site condition in response to the request from prefectural administration authorities as well as each quarry manager. The inspection for each case found that whole the round was of over-charge but a certain hole or the part on the blast site became a source origin of the fly-rock, that seems to have involved a sharp change in condition on the site deeply, that is, local existence of some poor rock-quality with dense joints or widely open fractures, some hole filled with water, some hole-deviation due to uneven crest face, an irregularity of blast face and etc.

In order to minimize the danger of fly-rock, needless to say, it is important that any change in such the condition is caught sharply on the blast site and suitable means (with some precaution) are taken certainly depending on the local change. However, for that, blasting should be done with room sufficiently, and it will be necessary that a mutual understanding and a close cooperation relation between a person in charge of blasting work and one in charge of subsequent loading and hauling work etc. will be required. And above all, the quarry manager�fs recognition about that seems indispensable.

Towards the end of the last millennium many new high energetic materials were developed. These materials may replace the presently used explosives, sooner or later. In this review, the authors try to explore some of these materials viz., polynitropolycyclic cage explosives, cyclic nitramines, cage explosives, nitro derivatized heterocyclic compounds, nickel hydrazine nitrate (NHN) complex, nitrocubanes, hafnium explosives, heat-resistant explosives, new insensitive high explosives and some other novel high energetic materials. There is a need for the development of analytical methods for identification of these materials and their post explosion residues as these are likely to be encountered in crimes.