Is there a difference in explosive force between successive explosions?

[Den Webi]

Suppose there are two explosive charges in a single casing. The detonation of the charges can be initiated either simultaneously (A) or in succession some milliseconds apart (B).

Does A differ from B in respect to the overall explosive force?
Can the shock front in B carry more energy in a certain direction?

This question arose from my friend's statement that a successive detonation improves the effect of an explosion due to some kind of self amplification process, something that I doubt.

Thank you in advance for your responses!

 

[mfb]

How do you define "overall explosive force"?
You can get a better shockwave in one direction if you fire the explosions with the right delay. This is frequently used to dig tunnels, or to fracture large areas of rock in mines.

 

[Bystander]

overall explosive force?

Energy release is the same.

direction?

An ideal "free" explosion is releasing energy in a spherically symmetric manner. Bore a hole, tamp it with clay, and the "free expansion" is forced to do work. Tamp one charge with the pressure wave from another charge, and it's got something even more solid to push against while doing work.

 

[Den Webi]

Thank you MFB and Bystander!

 

[A.T.]

You can get a better shockwave in one direction if you fire the explosions with the right delay. This is frequently used to dig tunnels, or to fracture large areas of rock in mines.

Also similar: multi-chamber guns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-3_cannon