Brisant

Brisant refers to the shattering effect of a high explosive upon detonation. It describes the tendency of an explosive to fragment its surroundings into fine particles. This is in contrast to deflagration, which is a rapid burning process that produces a lower pressure wave. Brisance is a measure of the shattering power of an explosive and is influenced by factors such as the detonation velocity and the density of the explosive material. High brisance explosives are effective for tasks such as demolition and fragmentation of targets, while explosives with lower brisance are more suited for propellant applications where a sustained push is required. The term is derived from the French word "briser," meaning to break. The brisant quality of an explosive is often assessed through tests like the sand crush test.