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SHOCK INITIATION OF SOLID EXPLOSIVES

Journal Article · · Physics of Fluids (U.S.)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706354· OSTI ID:4032146

Initiation phenomena in solid explosives produced by strong shock waves are described. Shock pressures in the explosive are between 20 and 200 kbar. It is demonstrated that in the usual case the shock wave travels not as an inert shock, but as a shock to which the explosive contributes energy, probably from reaction at voids and defects. This slightly reacting shock travels at increasing velocity for some distance, typically 1 cm in the experiments described, and then in a travel of perhaps 0.01 cm becomes full detonation, moving at full velocity. The increase to full detonation velocity occurs without overshoot. Experiments demonstrating the variation of sensitivity to shock with density, grnin size, and other properties are discussed. The explosives studied are cyclotol B, TNT, plastic-bonded HMX, and nitromethane-carborundum mixtures. (auth)

Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-15-016237
OSTI ID:
4032146
Journal Information:
Physics of Fluids (U.S.), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 4; ISSN PFLDA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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