Study of Accidental Ignition of Encased High Explosive Charges by Gas Compression Mechanisms.
Abstract
Non-shock initiation of large encased HE charges was theoretically investigated with idealized, yet realistic, models which consider the rapid closure of an air gap upon accidental drop of the device. Air void compression is one of the three fundamental thermal stimuli mechanisms that have been proposed for non-shock initiation of HE. The study considers this mechanism as applied to the initiation hazards of a large encased HE weapon system having an internal failure (a separation crack between HE and case or in the HE) and assesses the likelihood of gap compression as a viable mechanism of initiation for the kinds of drop times, gap thickness, and HE physical and thermochemical properties that are likely to exist when a weapon is accidentally dropped. The conductive model developed yields calculated thermal ignitions for reasonable combinations of drop height, explosive plastic flow strength, thermo-chemical explosive properties, and gap thicknesses. These calculations established the ranges over which such mechanisms are likely. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0783296
Entities
People
- Alan D. Randolph
- Kenneth O. Simpson
Organizations
- University of Arizona