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U.S. Department of Energy
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Shock initiation study of PBX-9404

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6696778

Pressure-field histories during the sustained and short-duration shock initiation of PBX-9404 explosive (plastic-bonded HMX) have been determined with embedded Manganin gauges. Numerical integration of the conservation relations and an assumed equation of state are used to obtain the decomposition histories during the initiation process. In both cases, this process is effected by reaction originating near the impact face producing pressure pulses that overtake the shock front and enhance its strength, leading to an abrupt transition to detonation. Correlation of reaction rates to state variables suggest an Arrhenius rate form, modified to include a dependence on shock strength and an induction time. This rate is used in computer simulations of several other initiation experiments on PBX-9404.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
6696778
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-78-1219; CONF-780813-9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English