A Study of Friction Fundamentals in Explosives
Abstract
Mechanical and lubrication engineers picture solid-solid contact as taking place only on the tips of the higher asperities of each surface, so that the contact load is borne only on a very small portion of the total surface area and all frictional heat is generated and absorbed in this small area. The size and number of the individual asperity junctions is in general not known; but averages are known, and it appears that asperity heights and spatial frequencies are described reasonably well by Gaussian statistics. This should make it possible to calculate frictional hot-spot temperatures and distributions on an explosive surface, given some laboratory measurements of factors such as coefficients of friction, frictional work expended and surface characteristics. With hot-spot statistics available, the probability of explosion can be calculated by available, published methods. A coordinated theoretical and empirical research program is proposed to apply the above engineering and mathematical concepts to explosives. The results should facilitate the identification of basic mechanical processes (such as metal-metal friction, or the viscous or plastic shear of explosives) which do and do not generate explosion hazards. This in turn will aid the design of more valid laboratory friction sensitivity testers and the design of safer explosive processing plants.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0718086
Entities
People
- John A. Brown