THE APPLICATION OF IMPLOSION WAVE DYNAMICS TO A HYPERVELOCITY LAUNCHER
Abstract
A detailed theoretical and experimental study of the concept of using spherical implosions as the driving mechanism for producing projectiles with velocities of the order of 50,000 feet per second was made. Experimental results which include launchings of 0.22 and 0.312 inch diameter, one caliber, magnesium and polyethelene projectiles, up to velocities of 17,000 feet per second verify the validity of the implosion driving concept. The performance limit is dictated by apparatus limitations and is not representative of the ultimate performance limit for implosion drivers. Calculations are included which indicate the feasibility of accelerating 1 inch diameter projectiles, 1 caliber long (rho = 1.0 g/cc) to 50,000 feet per second in a larger launcher having a 30 inch diameter hemispherical chamber and a 1.0 inch liner of explosive. The results of a study undertaken to determine the explosive materials and conditions that can be used for generating the implosion are presented and show that several explosive materials, including several PETN formulations, lead azide, nitrocellulose and combinations of these have properties that make them amenable to initiation by an impinging gaseous detonation wave. It was proven conclusively that symmetric spherical implosions can be produced by using gaseous detonation waves at moderate pressures to initiate safe, secondary, solid explosives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0654273
Entities
People
- Robert F. Flagg
Organizations
- University of Toronto