TNT Equivalence Calculator

How the tnt equivalence calculator works

Explosives are compared on a common scale by converting charge mass to the mass of TNT that would release comparable energy, using a relative effectiveness factor. RDX is about 1.6 times TNT, ANFO about 0.82.

Scaled distance, the standoff divided by the cube root of the TNT-equivalent mass, is the standard basis for comparison: charges at the same scaled distance produce similar overpressure regardless of absolute size.

Frequently asked questions

What is TNT equivalence?

A charge mass expressed as the mass of TNT releasing comparable energy, obtained by multiplying by a relative effectiveness factor. It puts different explosives on one scale.

What is scaled distance in blast analysis?

Standoff distance divided by the cube root of the TNT-equivalent charge mass. It is the parameter blast effects actually scale with, so it allows comparison across charge sizes.

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