The sand crush test[2] and Trauzl lead block test are commonly used to determine the relative brisance in comparison to TNT (which is considered a standard reference for many purposes).
At one extreme, if an explosive is to be used for propulsion, e.g. by driving a piston or a bullet, brisance is likely to be undesirable, because the objective will be to move the load, not to shatter it or the engine or firearm, nor to produce a loud report.
Such propulsive charges are designed to burn controllably, such as carburetted fuel/air mixes in vehicle piston engines, or nitrocellulose fibres or grains of controlled textures in firearm cartridges.
One of the most brisant of the conventional explosives is cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (also known as RDX or Hexogen).
[5] Fragmentation occurs by the action of the transmitted shock wave, the strength of which depends on the detonation pressure of the explosive.