Overview

GEMO has been created in 1971, under the DGA impulse, in order that test procedures (to be standardised and which are used for the qualification, the assessment and the control of explosive materials and products) can be commonly agreed between the various actors (designers, manufacturers, users, stakeholders...).

The purpose of the standardized methods is to ensure the reproducibility of the corresponding test results in order to avoid disagreement between customers and suppliers.

Since 1995, GEMO contributes to the standardization of the most relevant test procedures within the AFNOR T 70 M standardization commission "energetic materials for defence". ETBS chairs this commission.

The group (which is today approximately 90 members), is composed of explosive related experts from DGA, civil administrations and armament industry.

It is chaired by the head of the DGA/INSP/IPE/munitions safety office, and the general secretariat is in the hands of the technical establishment of Bourges (DGA/ETBS).

The group activities are divided into 4 main topics, themselves divided into technological fields made up of expert committees, according to the following structure:

- Topic 1: Statistics and Metrology

• Committee 1-1: Sampling and Statistics

• Committee 1-2: Metrology of pressures and thrusts

• Committee 1-3: Metrology of velocities and duration

- Topics 2: Physicochemical properties and analyses

• Committee 2-1: Mechanical properties

• Committee 2-2: Physical properties

• Committee 2-3: Propellant & intermediate explosive products analyses

• Committee 2-4: Secondary explosives analyses

• Committee 2-5: Primary explosives & pyrotechnics analyses

- Topic 3: Safety & Vulnerability

• Committee 3-1: Sensitivity

• Committee 3-2: Vulnerability

• Committee 3-3: Stability & Compatibility

- Topics 4: Performances

• Committee 4-1: Detonics

• Committee 4-2: Small calibers

• Committee 4-3: Artillery

• Committee 4-4: Mortars

• Committee 4-5: Closed vessels

• Committee 4-6: Initiators

• Committee 4-7: Self-propulsion

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MORE INFORMATION:

The "DGA/INSP/IPE/munitions" on the DGA website (only available in french)