Determining curvature effect on detonation velocity from rate stick experiment

Abstract

Analysis of the reactive Euler equations has shown that there is a correction to the CJ detonation velocity due to the curvature of a diverging detonation wave. We show that this determines the diameter effect and failure diameter of an explosive. The curvature correction to the detonation velocity is sensitive to the reaction rate and equation of state of the explosive. A rate stick experiment, in which both the steady-state detonation velocity and the shape of the detonation front are measured, is well suited to the empirical determination of the curvature effect. This is important in applications of detonation dynamics for propagating a detonation front and is an improvement over the Huygen construction used in programmed burn.