NATIONAL AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Idaho’s Explosives Test Range

Safeguarding citizens, soldiers and infrastructure from 

explosive threats

Continued next page

Terrorist bombings of 

U.S. military posts 

and government 

installations are on the rise 

throughout the world. Today, many national security 

experts are concerned that 

these attacks could spread to 

various types of U.S. infrastructure, ranging from power 

distribution stations and dams 

to shopping malls and sports 

complexes. Idaho National 

Laboratory is confronting this 

threat head-on with comprehensive research, field-ready 

technologies and facilities 

and multidisciplinary teams 

of experts to develop and 

test materials, systems and 

solutions against this growing 

concern.

INL has a long history of explosive effects testing and research to protect Department 

of Energy critical assets. This 

research involves identifying 

vulnerabilities in existing or 

planned facilities, developing mitigative strategies to 

correct these vulnerabilities 

and implementing protective 

strategies. A combination of 

high-performance computing 

and explosive testing is used 

to design and validate these 

strategies. 

In addition, INL has the capabilities to test a wide range 

of explosives threats for other 

federal agencies, law enforcement and private industry. 

Comprehensive testing allows 

us to measure explosive effects on structures and protective barriers, and to evaluate 

INL’s full-scale explosives 

test range allows scientists 

to conduct scalable 

performance testing to 

measure blast effects, shock 

and vibration on structures 

and protective barriers.
NATIONAL AND HOMELAND SECURITY

the effectiveness of potential 

countermeasures. Due to the 

ever-changing threat posed 

by terrorist organizations, 

INL recently developed a new 

multipurpose research and development explosives range. 

This range has the capability 

of handling a variety of energetic experiments, including 

explosive events with a maximum charge weight of up to 

20,000 pounds TNT, inert 

projectiles with a maximum 

flight of 8,000 meters and 

shoulder-fired rockets.

The ability to detonate large 

explosive charges plays a 

key role in characterizing 

explosive threats and validating computer models with 

realistic results. Most physical 

barrier design data is untested 

and relies heavily on empirical calculations. Security designs are based on extrapolations from textbook equations 

developed for the design of 

common construction materials. On the other hand, a terrorist bombing – a new tactic 

confronting national security 

– challenges the understanding of barrier performance 

against this threat. 

INL’s explosives test range 

enables our scientists to safely 

detonate large-scale explosives, record dynamic effects, and measure and record 

pressure-time histories, crater 

size, barrier damage and the 

extent of the debris. This test 

data is then used to validate 

blast effects models, enhance 

the accuracy of vulnerability assessment models and 

support the development of 

improved protective structures 

and materials.

Continued from previous page

An INL technician performs testing and analysis on a trace explosives 

detection system as part of a long-running program to evaluate 

detection technologies for the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The INL-developed Idaho 

Explosives Detection System 

scans cargo trucks for 

smuggled explosives entering 

military bases, embassies and 

parking garages. 
NATIONAL AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Scientifically validated results 

from testing provide structural engineers, architects and 

government agencies with 

accurate information as they 

are challenged to develop new 

defensive measures to protect 

citizens, soldiers and critical 

infrastructures from explosive 

terrorist threats. 

INL’s test range is staffed 

by some of the world’s most 

renowned explosives and 

materials experts who conduct 

scalable performance testing and develop advanced 

technologies to protect the 

United States against threats 

like vehicle-borne improvised 

explosive devices and rocketpropelled grenades. INL explosives engineers have more 

than 250 years of experience 

in the field, and many have 

specialized military or doctoral degree educations. 

INL also operates the National 

Nuclear Security Administration Center of Excellence for 

Vulnerability Analysis. Here, 

high-qualified vulnerability, 

protective force and explosives breaching experts work 

to enhance the security of the 

nation’s nuclear facilities and 

national laboratories through 

the development of vulnerability assessments, characterization of threat guidance, performance testing of preventive 

and mitigative measures, and 

comprehensive training. 

INL explosives engineer John 

Weathersby explains how 

blast pressure and heat can 

impact a vehicle. 

An INL materials scientist prepares a sample of ceramic composite 

vehicle armor for ballistics testing. 

Continued next page
NATIONAL AND HOMELAND SECURITY

07-GA50071

Ernie Cespedes

(208) 526-6469

ernesto.cespedes@inl.gov

Chad Landon

(208) 526-5122

chad.landon@inl.gov

A U.S. Department of Energy

National Laboratory

For more information

In addition, INL scientists are 

experts in ion mobility and 

secondary ion mass spectrometry, and are conducting research and performing testing 

on trace explosives detection 

systems for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

and other federal agencies. 

They perform explosive 

forensic analysis, design 

improved sensors and develop 

detection testing protocols 

and standards. INL maintains 

a Class II, Division I Operations Room for explosives 

assembly and a BATF-certified magazine for explosives 

storage. 

Scientists also have extensive 

expertise in bulk explosives 

detection technologies and are 

involved in the development 

and deployment of the Idaho 

Explosives Detection System, 

which scans cargo trucks 

for smuggled explosives at 

entry points to Department of 

Defense facilities. This system was recently installed at 

Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air 

Force Base for field testing. 

The laboratory has a long 

history of developing bulk 

INL’s explosives testing capabilities include the ability to analyze the 

impacts of explosively formed projectiles on common materials. 

Continued from previous page explosives and chemical detection technologies, including 

the award-winning portable 

isotopic neutron spectroscopy 

system, and an imaging and 

analysis system to enhance the 

stand-off detection of explosives concealed under clothing 

using passive, long-wave infrared sensors. INL researchers are 

also designing, modeling and 

fabricating a simultaneous dualmode ion mobility spectrometer with a unique automated 

spectral interpretation system 

to improve detection limits 

and resolution while enabling 

simultaneous detection of a 

greater number of compounds, 

including explosives and 

chemical warfare agents.

By combining our technical expertise, capabilities in 

vulnerability analysis and 

unparalleled testing facilities with our award-winning 

technology development, INL 

is working to increase the 

safety and security of American citizens, soldiers and law 

enforcement.