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U.S. Department of Energy
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Deflagration-to-detonation transition in granular HMX

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5303464· OSTI ID:5303464

Experimental studies of the deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) in chemical explosives, specifically, granular HMX, are reviewed. The picture of the DDT process as presented here results from an attempt to incorporate common experimental observations which have heretofore been puzzling. It differs from that presented by G.B. Kistiakowsky in that the role of convective combustion is terminated and mechanical processes are postulated as the means of continuing the reaction buildup until shock waves are formed. In order to validate this picture it will be necessary both to review the experimental literature for observations which may not be reconcilable with it, and to subject each step in the proposed DDT process to detailed scrutiny. (LCL)

Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
5303464
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-80-2016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English