What does brisance mean?
Brisance is the measure of an explosive's shattering power — its capacity to break apart or fragment the solid material it touches. It differs from an explosive's overall strength or energy content: a charge may release great total energy yet produce little fragmentation, while another releases less energy but develops detonation pressure so rapidly that it pulverizes rock or cuts through steel. For this reason brisance depends chiefly on the velocity and pressure of the detonation wave. High-brissance explosives such as RDX are chosen for cutting metal and military applications, whereas low-brissance materials like ammonium nitrate suit pushing or heaving tasks such as mining. The word derives from the French verb briser, 'to break', via the adjective brisant. It remains a specialist term of explosives engineering and ballistics, rarely encountered outside technical writing.
nounThe shattering effect of an explosive, measured by its ability to break or fragment the material in contact with it. More generally, the quality of being violently destructive or breaking.
- The shattering or fragmentation capability of an explosive, determined by the speed at which its detonation pressure develops.
- By extension, violent destructive or breaking quality.
"The high brisance of TNT makes it ideal for demolition work."
"RDX has greater brisance than TNT, which is why it is favored for cutting charges."
"The engineer compared the brisance of various blasting agents before selecting one for the quarry."
Rarely pluralized; the word is almost always used as an uncountable mass noun referring to a property rather than countable instances.
"The manual tabulated the relative brisances of common industrial explosives."
Two explosives can pack the same punch but only one will shatter steel — that difference is called brisance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brisance
Brisance comes from the French brisant, the present participle of briser meaning 'to break', adopted into English in the late nineteenth century alongside the development of modern high explosives. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, though briser is often traced to a Germanic source. The adjective brisant was formed first, and the noun brisance followed as a technical coinage.
Related word forms
How brisance is actually used
A technical term used chiefly in explosives engineering, ballistics, and military contexts; rare in everyday speech. It describes how quickly an explosive builds up pressure, as distinct from its total energy output.
Easily confused with brisance
"Brilliance" means intense brightness or exceptional intelligence or talent, while "brisance" refers specifically to the shattering power of an explosive.