The chemistry of detonations. VI. A “Rule for Gamma” as a criterion for choice among conflicting detonation pressure measurements

Abstract

The adiabatic exponent, γ, defines the pressure-volume slope in the adiabatic expansion of detonation gases. The γ value for the Chapman-Jouguet state of a “usual” CHNO explosive with a loading density, ϱ 0 > 1.0 g/cc may be calculated by means of a “Rule for Gamma” which suggests that γ J is a monotonically increasing function of ϱ 0 and independent of the chemical composition of the explosive, γ= 0.655 ρ 0 +0.702+1.107ρ 0 Such a rule may be used as a criterion for selecting detonation pressures of explosives from among conflicting experimental measurements and for estimating detonation pressures from measured detonation velocities of explosives whose compositions, structures, or heats of formation are not known.