Abstract
An E,P,V equation of state based on an assumption of Walsh and Christian and experimental shock data has been derived for nitromethane and liquid TNT. From experimental temperature data along the 1 bar isobar, the temperatures, specific heats at constant volume, and ``internal pressures'' are calculated. Application of this equation of state and simple adiabatic explosion theory leads (i) to accurate predictions of the experimental explosion times for shocked homogeneous nitromethane and liquid TNT at 86 and 125 kbar, respectively, and (ii) to a predicted steady-state reaction zone width of 0.0011 cm for detonation in nitromethane that is in satisfactory agreement with the widths deduced from detonation failure and electrical conductivity experiments. In addition, the problem of the initiation of explosives by the formation of hot spots by shocks is considered. A critical hot spot size is obtained that is in satisfactory agreement with the experimental critical bubble size for propagation of detonation in nitromethane.
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