A New Kinetics and the Simplicity of Detonation

Abstract

The results are presented from 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 quite surprising 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 limit the advance of the kinetic energy which leads to the very high impact velocities of the atoms and molecules which cause massive bond fracture in the molecules in extremely short times. The majority of the free atoms and radicals and other highly activated species formed then react in very short times (10 -14 to 10 -12 s), often in chain reactions, to provide the chemical energy which maintains the enormous level of kinetic energy at the detonation front.