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Hot of the Press Experimental results on Non-Newtonian Fluids in Blasting


drgjs

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Non-Newtonian or shear thickening fluids can turn solid when pressure is applied hard enough and quick enough. Oobleck is a mix of cornflour and water in just the right proportions, forming such a liquid. You can run across a pool of Oobleck, apparently, because your feet it hard enough and fast enough to form a solid layer, but walk and you are sunk. These materials have been explored for use in body armour, but while they may stop bullets, the weakeness is the slow knife still penetrates, as they remain liquid.

 

We have long since been wondering if we can exploit these peculiar properties of Oobleck for rock breaking in controlled ways. We performed a series of tests with detonation cord in drill holes filled either with water or oobleck. These early results indicate that shear thickening fluids may have pivotal roles in controlled, efficient blasting, and certainly it would appear that the blast protecting nature of Oobleck is significant.

 

I have included our videos with the observed results here.

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