A New Kinetics and the Simplicity of Detonation

Abstract

AbstractA review is presented of three experiments, as well as a number of molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics calculations. which cast in serious doubt the validity of some concepts and theories of detonation. This doubt led to numerous studies in search of more satisfying concepts, and the results of several of those studies are given. Particularly, a new concept of the kinetics of shock‐induced chemical reaction is presented. This process, designated as physical kinetics, is described as a nonequilibrium, nonthermal process in which chemical reaction rates are determined and regulated by the averaged vibrational velocities of the bonded atoms in condensed systems under the influence of high velocity shock waves. These velocities control the advance of the kinetic energy which leads to the very high impact velocities of the molecules and atoms which cause massive bond fracture in the molecules in extremely short times. It is shown that a detonation model based on the new kinetics model, with the major reactions occurring in times of the order of tenths of picoseconds and in distances on the order of tens of angströms ‐ in the shock or detonation front ‐ can provide a precise and satisfying mathematical and physical description of detonation phenomena.