THEORETICAL STUDIES ON THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF BOMBS TO THERMAL INITIATION WHEN SUBJECT TO A LIQUID HYDROCARBON FIRE.
Abstract
Times to explosion of Mk-81 bombs engulfed in hydrocarbon fires were calculated for various fire temperatures and thicknesses of hot melt internal liner. Since the experimental explosion times in bomb cook-off tests were much less than the calculated times to explosion, it has been concluded that the hot melt loses its insulating properties at temperatures above its softening point. In a given bomb the hot melt thickness often is not uniform. Moreover, the heat flux in a given fire usually varies with location. Calculations indicated that the worst conditions (i.e. thinnest hot melt thickness, largest heat flux), rather than the average conditions, should be used in predicting the response of ordanance items flame envelopment. It was found that the effect of the explosive kinetic parameters (i.e. activation energy and frequency factor) on the times to explosion of Mk-81 bombs was significant. Using literature values of the kinetic parameters, calculated times to explosion of H-6 in a steel pipe were found to agree well with experimental explosion times. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 26, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0699035
Entities
People
- David Dancer
- Donald Levine
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory