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U.S. Department of Energy
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Current experimental and theoretical understanding of detonation waves in heterogeneous solid explosives. [HMX]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6284180

Nanosecond time resolution embedded gauge, laser interferometric, and numerical modeling techniques have been applied to detonating heterogeneous solid explosives based on HMX, TATB, TNT and PETN. These techniques combine to yield an average, one-dimensional ZND profile of the reaction zones and an estimate of the unreacted von Neumann spike state (or a partially reacted state depending on the actual time resolution of the experimental techniques and the actual initial reaction rates). Generally the new results confirm previous measurements of the spike pressure and overall reaction zone length, but they yield much more precise information on the chemical energy release rates under various experimental conditions. The relatively slow process of carbon condensation in HMX detonation is observed following rapid release of most of the chemical energy. In the longer reaction zones of TNT and TATB-based explosives, a rapid exothermic process followed by a slower exothermic process is also observed. 21 refs., 8 figs.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6284180
Report Number(s):
UCRL-95462; CONF-871040-10; ON: DE87012177
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English