Explosive Hydrocode Modeling and Proof Testing of the HsERA-26 Containment Vessel

Abstract

Abstract An inherited containment vessel design that has been used in the past to contain items in an environmental testing unit was brought to the Explosives Applications Lab to be analyzed and modified. The goal was to modify the vessel to contain an explosive event of 4g TNT equivalence at least once without failure or significant girth expansion while maintaining a seal. A total of ten energetic tests were performed on multiple vessels. In these tests, the 7075-T6 aluminum vessels were instrumented with thin-film resistive strain gages and both static and dynamic pressure gauges to study its ability to withstand an oversize explosive charge of 8g. Additionally, high precision girth (pi tape) measurements were taken before and after each test to measure the plastic growth of the vessel due to the event. Concurrent with this explosive testing, hydrocode modeling of the containment vessel and charge was performed. The modeling results were shown to agree with the results measured in the explosive field testing. Based on the data obtained during this testing, this vessel design can be safely used at least once to contain explosive detonations of 8g at the center of the chamber for a charge that will not result in damaging fragments.