An Experimental Investigation of the Role of Shear in Initiation of Detonation by Impact

Abstract

Heavily confined explosive targets (artillery shells) were subjected to impacts by explosively launched plates and by penetrating fragments. In each experiment, the damaged explosive was collected, sectioned, and examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. A number of different types of damage was observed, each of which is expected to contribute to the initiation process. The response of the explosive to impacts is more complicated than originally thought. Since the explosive is mechanically weak, the conditions for shear damage are almost entirely controlled by casing response to the impact, and the domain over which severe damage occurs is controlled by case deformation. We are as yet unable to rank these various explosive damage mechanisms with respect to their importance to the initiation process. Keywords: Explosives sensitivity, Impact initiation, Shear banding.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA166520

Entities

People

  • Gould Gibbons Jr.
  • Patricia E. Webber
  • Philip M. Howe

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemistry
  • Commerce
  • Decomposition
  • Detonations
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Electrons
  • Explosive Charges
  • Explosives
  • Grain Boundaries
  • Hot Spots
  • Microscopy
  • Military Research
  • Munitions
  • Projectiles
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • ballistics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics