Insensitive Munitions Development for General Purpose Bombs
Abstract
The Air Force requires a 1.6 hazard classification of general purpose bombs to reduce restructions posed by current quantity distance criteria, minimize storage hazards and to increase combat readiness. There has been a concerted effort by industry and Air Force explosive development teams to provide an energetic material which meets these requirements without compromising performance levels. Wax desensitized formulations, nitroguanidine-based formulations and, most recently, NTO-based formulations have been studied in melt-cast and polymeric systems. The relatively large critical diameter of many insensitive candidate formulations has generated a requirement for larger subscale evaluation techniques and practical means of predicting behavior in full-scale hardware. The eight-inch diameter gap test and modified expanded large-scale gap test have been calibrated. A relatively inexpensive technique for measuring casewall fragment velocities and deriving Gurney characteristic velocities has been developed. Experimental results are provided for the in-house candidate material currently in advanced development, TNTO. Hydrocode methods for predicting full-scale pressure and energy profiles in realistic storage configurations are ongoing. A comparison of experiments and calculations for MK-82 bombs in various geometrical arrangements is presented. These technologies and procedures are essential to accomplish the task of arming the services with insensitive munitions. Future munitions must be safe to handle and store while performing as required upon demand.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA529513
Entities
People
- John D. Corley
- Stephen A. Aubert