Knowra Improvised explosive device Improvised explosive device An improvised explosive device is an explosive weapon assembled from nonstandard components for use outside conventional weapons systems. Its construction and effects vary widely.
Detonation : A supersonic reaction wave propagates through an energetic material, producing high-pressure gases. Detonation is the rapid energy release that gives an explosive device its destructive effect.
Counter-IED : Military, security, and civilian measures designed to prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond to improvised explosive devices. This field organizes responses to the threat across operations and public safety.
Blast injury : Physical harm caused by the pressure wave, fragments, heat, or displacement associated with an explosion. Victims may suffer several interacting injury mechanisms from a single blast.
Conventional weapon : A weapon produced or used within established military systems and standard categories, rather than improvised from nonstandard components. The distinction centers on how the weapon is assembled and integrated, not simply its effects.
Explosive material : A substance or mixture that releases energy rapidly through a chemical reaction or decomposition. The energetic material supplies the blast, though devices may vary greatly in composition.
Land mine : An explosive device designed to be triggered by a person, vehicle, or other disturbance, usually after emplacement. Unlike many improvised devices, land mines are purpose-built weapons with standardized designs.
Traumatic brain injury : Damage to brain function caused by an external force, including impact or blast exposure. Blast exposure can injure the brain even when external wounds are limited.
Fuze : A device that initiates the functioning of a munition under specified conditions. Fuzes are standardized components in conventional munitions; improvised devices may use nonstandard initiation arrangements.
Blast wave : A pressure disturbance that travels outward from a sudden release of energy. Blast pressure is one major source of injury and structural damage.
Suicide attack : An attack in which the attacker expects to die while carrying out the operation. Some improvised explosive attacks involve an attacker who deliberately carries the device.
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