Research on the effect of aluminium contents and its particle size on free field and confined explosions characteristics of RDX-based compositions containing 15-60% aluminium was carried out. Parameters of blast waves produced by charges of the investigated explosives detonating in an open space were measured by the use of piezoelectric gauges. Simultaneously, photodiode set-ups were used to measure light output of the detonating charges. Quasi-static pressure measurements were conducted in steel chambers of 0.15 and 7 m(3) volume filled with air. Moreover, the heat of detonation was measured with a calorimetric set in a 5.6 dm(3) bomb filled with argon. The results of QSP and detonation heat measurements were compared with those obtained from thermochemical calculations.