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Short-pulse shock initiation of granular explosives. [PBX-9404]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6773476
An experimental investigation has examined how different rates of unloading affect the release of chemical energy in a granular explosive experiencing transient shock compression. A compressed-gas gun was used to generate two types of short-pulse shocks in the explosive PBX-9404. A shock pressure of 3.2 GPa sustained for 0.37 ..mu..s was produced in both cases, but differences in flyer-plate properties resulted in different unloading histories. In one case the impact interface was rapidly unloaded by the initial release wave, while in the second case the unloading required multiple release waves over several microseconds. A VISAR system was used to observe the evolution of these two waves for distances up to 10 mm. The recorded waveforms showed that the unloading rates had a dominant effect on chemical energy release and growth towards detonation. This effect is important for considerations of critical impact criteria, and should provide a strong test for predictive shock-initiation models.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6773476
Report Number(s):
SAND-80-2305C; CONF-810602-17
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English