Akademic worker
Name: Ing. Vojtěch Pelikán, Ph.D.
Phone: +420 466 03 8056
E-mail: vojtech.pelikan@upce.cz
Office: Technological Department Doubravice,
building CD, office No. 02 005
Scientific profile
Pyrotechnics and pyrotechnic ammunition
Within this complex and multidisciplinary field of engineering I am focused on development and testing of the compositions and products for civil and military applications. For solving given tasks in the pyrotechnics I am usually cooperating with the manufacturers from Czech Republic or from the abroad (eg. Zeveta Bojkovice, CZ; D-Technik, CZ; Austin Detonator, CZ; AEL Mining Services, SA). Under the framework of pyrotechnics I am also focused on the initiators, initiation technology and related technologies. (Detonators, stab primers, shock tube initiators, etc.). I am specialist instructor for initiation technologies in education/training of EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) specialists for CZ Police & Military.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Sensitivity of EM’s
Within this area of energetic materials testing I am focused on development of the new test methods and testing devices – ESD testers. I am also interested in the study of ESD initiation mechanisms and energy transfer between electric arc and the granular bed of energetic material. Recently, in cooperation with manufacturer I am developing a new third generation of the ESD testers for EM’s. In some EU countries (eg. France, Finland) is now being our test method examined as candidate for the national test standard (norm).
Energetic materials instrumentation/testing
In this field of experimental evaluation of explosive phenomenon I am focused on measurement of parameters of blast and shock waves in open or confined geometry. In cooperation with the manufacturer of the pressure gauges and transducers I am working on optimization and application of special pressure transducers intended for the confined vessels – detonation chambers which are capable to measure reflected shock waves and related data processing. Within the frame of experimental instrumentation I am also marginally interested in the experimental data post processing.
Educational exchange/expertise:
- 2005 University of Cambridge, Cavendish laboratory, PCS group, UK (visiting student).
- 2006 University of Cambridge, Cavendish laboratory, PCS group, UK (summer intern).
- 2007 National certification for expertise – Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
- 2009 – 2010 Energetics Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, (Research Fellow).
- 2012 Member of the National Technical Committee for Explosives & Pyrotechnics under Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing.
Lectures on
- UENM/C097 – Laboratory Training I.
- UENM/C209 – Technology of Pyrotechnics Products and Compositions.
- UENM/C965 – Principles of Ammunition Design.
Thesis supervision
- Ing. Michal Kilián, Ph.D., Ammonium Perchlorate Particle Size and its Effects on Ballistic Performance of GTMS electric initiator, License Study thesis, Pardubice 2006.
- Drahomír Michálek, Effect of Quality and Components Particle Size for Long Period Delay Pyrotechnic Compositions, License Study thesis, Pardubice 2006.
- Pavel Céza, Study on Performance and Effect of Anti-riot Control Pyrotechnics, License Study thesis, Pardubice 2009.
- Ing. Kateřina Bušová, Aspects of ESD Sensitivity of Airbag Pyrotechnic Composition on Airbag Initiators Production, License Study thesis, Pardubice 2012.
- Iveta Pilná, Electronic Initiation Systems for Mining Applications, bachelor thesis, Pardubice 2013.
Publication Activities
Publications in International Journals
- V.Pelikan, Application of the Conducting Composition Fuseheads in the Pyrotechnic Devices, Journal of Pyrotechnics, 2006, (24),3-11.
- S. Zeman, V. Pelikán, J. Majzlík and Z. Fiedl, Electric Spark Sensitivity of Nitramines. Part I. Aspects of Molecular Structure, Central European Journal of Energetic Materials, 2006, 3(3), 27-44.
- S. Zeman, V. Pelikán, J. Majzlík and J. Kočí, Electric Spark Sensitivity of Nitramines. Part II. A Problem of “Hot Spots”, Central European Journal of Energetic Materials, 2006, 3(3), 45-51.
- M. Ferjencik, V. Pelikan and S. Cousy, Is Our Apparatus Foolproof?: Examination of Safety-Important Characteristics of an Electrostatic Discharge Tester for Explosives, Process Safety Progress 2013, Vol.32(3), 283-297.
International Conferences
- M.W.Greenaway, P.R.Laity and V. Pelikan; X-Ray Microtomography of Sugar and HMX Granular Beds Undergoing Compaction, 14th APS Conference Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, 2005, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
- V. Pelikan; Conducting Composition Fuse Heads and Their Properties for the Use in Electric Detonators, Blasting Techniques 2005, Stará Lesná, Tatranská Lomnica, SK.
- S. Zeman, Z. Friedl, J. Koci, V. Pelikán and J. Majzlik; New Findings of the Spark Sensitivity of Nitramines, Part I: Aspects of Molecular Structure, 9th Int. „New trends in Research of Energetic Materials”, 2006, Pardubice, CZ.
- S. Zeman, V. Pelikán, J. Koci, and J. Majzlik; New Findings of the Spark Sensitivity of Nitramines, Part II: A problem of “Hot Spots”, 9th Int. Seminar „New trends in Research of Energetic Materials“, 2006, Pardubice, CZ.
- J. Majzlík, V. Pelikán, Optical Measurement of Reaction Delay in Granular Bed of Energetic Material Activated by Electrostatic discharge, 44th Int. Ann. Conf. Of the Fraunhofer ICT, 2013, Karlsruhe, DE.
- O. Němec, M. Jungová, J. Grega, V. Pelikán, S. Zeman, Note on determination of relative explosive strength of fortified W/O emulsions by means of ballistic mortar., 15th Int. Seminar „New trends in Research of Energetic Materials“, 2012, Pardubice, CZ.
Invited Lectures
- V.Pelikán; New Types of Electric Initiators, 2nd International Pyrotechnics Seminar, 2003, Prague, CZ.
- V.Pelikán; Electric Initiators, 3rd Meeting of Military EOD Personnel, 2006, Boletice, CZ.
- V.Pelikán; Testing of the ESD Sensitivity From the Standpoint of Practice, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Trivandrum, 2012, India.
- V.Pelikán; New Aspects of Determination of Sensitivity of Pyrotechnic comp. to Electrostatic Discharge, China Academy Of Safety Science and Technology (CASST), 2013, Beijing.
