Three-dimensional unsteady reactive two-phase flow analysis to predict detonation transition in fragmented high explosives/warheads. Interim report, September 1982-March 1985

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6142065

Krier, H; Dahm, M R

Prior to fuse initiation, metal-containment-wall failure and fragmentation of the high explosive can result from the impact forces between the warhead and the hardened target. The detonation that is expected to occur under totally confined conditions may be reduced to an unsteady, rapid deflagration with much less damage to the target. The principal work presented in the report is the development of a three-dimensional unsteady flow model which can be used to predict whether detonation will occur after the impact of a ruptured warhead filled with fragmented high explosive. The delay of detonation transition can be quite significant if there is sufficient mass loss through container walls. This is clearly demonstrated here, where significant detonation delays could be predicted when using even a quasi, one-dimensional assumption. This report includes significant new findings and is the culmination of more than two years of effort to solve the two- and three-dimensional flow in a reactive gas/solid mixture. The results demonstrate that it may be possible to predict whether a warhead with case failure (and filled with fragmented high explosive) will produce a low order detonation which is weaker than one required to damage structures. A major portion of the report deals with the numerical methods required in order to carry out such solutions. Results include not only pressure histories but flow velocities, reaction from loci, and temperature distributions.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA). Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
• OSTI ID: 6142065
• Report Number(s): AD-A-160777/9/XAB; UILU-ENG-84-4008
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
42 ENGINEERING
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DETONATIONS
FRAGMENTATION
UNSTEADY FLOW
EQUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
TARGETS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VELOCITY
EXPLOSIVES
FLUID FLOW
MECHANICS
450100* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
400800 - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
420400 - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow