About

The Center for Energy and Detonics (CED) is divided into three distinct sectors, respectively related to the study and development of explosives and shock transmission in condensates, the study of propellants and gas generators, and the study of preliminary or prototype applications of explosives. The areas of intervention of the CED are the following::

• Shock wave characterization;
• Shock characterization of materials and damage assessment;
• Initiation of explosives, with and without energetic binders;
• Shock sensitivity characterization and detocaracterization as a function of characteristic particle size;
• IED and evaluation of demilitarization processes;
• Dynamic consolidation with explosive of metallic and ceramic powders;
• Metal explosion welding;
• Numerical simulation of the detonation process;
• Waste disposal of explosive products;
• Qualification and certification of skills in the explosives sector.

Due to the knowledge that the CED has in the area of detonation/explosion physics, it has been, over the years, requested by several entities and companies to perform certified tests or to verify the characteristics of products placed on the market, especially for the performance of standardized tests in the area of industrial safety, or the calibration of geophones for measuring the velocity of ground vibrations due to impulsive loads, as well as the characterization of materials likely to cause accidental explosions in industries where there is the formation of dust clouds of organic materials.

The research group has also been requested to perform conformity tests for CE marking of pyrotechnic articles of categories F1, F2, F3, and F4, as well as request for standardized tests for characterization of raw materials used in the manufacture of pyrotechnic articles.

The main infrastructure of the CED is the Laboratory of Energetics and Detonics, where most of the laboratory work and certification actions are developed. Its strategic goals, current and future, are the following:

• Development of advanced energy materials based on experimental, theoretical and modeling work
• Development and improvement of models and tools, numerical, for the simulation and characterization of the detonation process in all its phases
• Development of fuels for rocket motors;
• To deepen the collaboration with Industry and Military Institutions in the areas of: synthesis of materials by detonation; metal welding by explosion; munitions disposal technology; life cycle assessment of energetic materials.
• Promote relations with European, North American and Brazilian Research Centers in the area of the physics and chemistry of detonation and shockwaves;
• To present new activities for the provision of services, in areas where it has been in demand and has not had the capacity to respond, namely offering standardized tests in the area of industrial safety, concerning the risk of explosion of dust, conducting standardized tests for conformity assessment - pyrotechnics and explosives, CE marking of pyrotechnic articles of categories F1, F2, F3 and F4.

CED has 2 employees assigned to its staff of human resources. There are also 4 researchers of the Technical Corps collaborating with this technology center, of which we highlight Andrade Campos, Researcher and former Associate Professor at the University of Coimbra, Ricardo Mendes, Researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra, José Baranda Ribeiro, Researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra, and José Góis, Researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra.