STUDIES ON DEFLAGRATION TO DETONATION IN PROPELLANTS AND EXPLOSIVES

Abstract

The U. S. Naval Propellant Plant high-performance double-base propellant was tested under extreme confinement. Thus far it has been impossible to attain a transition from deflagration to detonation in this material, in spite of the fact that the confined critical diameter is only about 1.5 cm when directly initiated by explosive-generated shock waves. Some basic experiments have been conducted, using simple probe systems to determine electron and ion activity in the reaction zone of a detonating explosive. Ultimately it may be possible to prevent a transition by applying externally generated electric and/ or magnetic fields. A pressure probe system for the continuous display of compression wave velocities was developed and applied to delayed detonation in explosives as well as to pressure waves in an inert liquid body. The indications are that such a system may be used effectively to reveal pre-detonation pressure waves in opaque solids under heavy confinement. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 10, 1961
Accession Number
AD0256338

Entities

People

  • C. R. Summers
  • F. C. Gibson
  • F. H. Scott

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Compression Waves
  • Detonations
  • Double Base Propellants
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • High Explosives
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Measurement
  • Propellant Grains
  • Propellants
  • Shock Waves
  • Solid Propellants

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics