Which risk increased in Song Dynasty crossbows firing gunpowder-propelled bolts?

💡 Explanation

The increased shock from gunpowder combustion caused catastrophic failures, thus initiating stress concentration across micro-cracks; shattering becomes likely rather than slow deformation, because cast iron lacks ductility and has limited ability to deal with sudden impulse stresses.

• Which outcome followed early use of bellows-driven blast furnaces in ancient China to exceed ~1150°C?
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