Production and Assessment of Damaged High Energy Propellant Samples,
Abstract
This work was undertaken to subject a variety of high energy propellants to different stress fields and to assess the microstructural changes that occur. Low strain rate mechanical deformation in compression and low temperature thermal stressing were used to damage samples. These materials were tested nondestructively using ultrasonics in which longitudinal sound velocity measurements were made. Microscopic examination was performed on microtomed sections of damaged and undamaged propellant, as well as on fracture surfaces when appropriate. Propellant recovered from a low amplitude shock sensitivity experiment, an aquarium shot, was also evaluated for comparison purposes. In general, propellant samples that had been compressed at low strain rate did not undergo extensive damage. Crack densities were very low, and dewetting was the observed damage mechanism. Propellant samples exposed to liquid nitrogen exhibited numerous brittle fractures and little, if any, dewetting. Based on sound velocity measurements, the deformation was localized, leaving a large volume of material undisturbed. Propellant recovered from the aquarium experiment was damaged most extensively of all the material examined in this work. The crack number density and the area of crack surfaces/unit volume of propellant were highest. Sound velocity measurements indicate that dewetting did not occur in sizable portions of the material and that again the deformation was localized. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 08, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA094720
Entities
People
- Wayne L. Elban
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory