Prediction of Detonation Transition in Porous Explosives from Rapid Compression Loadings
Abstract
Increasing the nitramine content of solid rocket propellants increases the overall performance of the system as well as the sensitivity to Shock to Detonation Transition (SDT) and Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT). This report deals primarily with the analysis and numerical modeling of a combined SDT/DDT event. The results show that in some instances a zone of burning granulated propellant, confined and adjacent to a zone of cast propellant, can provide a rapid enough pressure-rise rate to shock initiate the cast material. This type of detonation hazard scenario is a real possibility in any high-energy rocket motor environment. The modeling study also indicates areas where important assumptions need to be further researched. These include: (a) relations for dynamic (transient) collapse of the voids or pores; (b) relations for setting the volume percent of hot spots based on initial porosity; (c) the evaluation and expression for the chemical rate of decomposition of the reactive, shocked material; and (d) the assessment of two-phase mixture equilibrium. The predicted run-to detonation distance as a function of porosity for HMX explosive compares favorably with limited shock initiation experiments. There is no data available to check whether the predictions of ramp-wave compressions (where rise times exceed several microseconds) presented here are valid.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 15, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA162767
Entities
People
- Herman Krier
- James R. Stewart
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign