An Experimental and Numerical Study on Exploding Foil Initiators (EFIs)

Abstract

Increasing insensitivity demands on initiation trains in missile systems necessitates utilizing high voltage initiators. Exploding Foil Initiator (EFI), also known as Slapper Detonator, is the well–known high voltage detonator that can only be initiated under the action of large electrical currents. EFI is strictly immune to Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) effects due to its specific high current pulse need. Besides, an EFI can detonate a durable secondary high explosive like HNS–IV which is compliant to MIL – STD – 1316. This paper mentions the effects of barrel length, bridge copper thickness and flyer plate thickness on the electrical performances of EFI striplines and average velocities of flyer plates experimentally. Furthermore, a numerical study is performed, which both predicts the electrical performances of EFI striplines and average velocities of flyer plates under specified parameters to have a better view of the integrity between theoretical and experimental results.