AbstractShock wave energy and bubble energy for different explosives have been measured in underwater experiments. A method to determine bubble energies in cases where the free water surface and bottom boundary disturb the bubble oscillation has been developed. The shock energy loss when the primary shock wave travels from the charge to the gage resulting in heating of the surrounding water has been estimated by correlation with data derived from detonation calorimeter experiments for some explosives. Comparison of the measured total expansion work with data from thermodynamic computer calculations show good agreement for many oxygen balanced explosives, but poor agreement for explosives with a large oxygen deficit. For explosives of the ANFO type there is a considerable effect on expansion work by booster size, charge size, and shape.