Detonation Of High Explosives Research Articles

Shock-induced nanoscale pore collapse and hotspot in cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX)

Pore collapse induced hotspot formation is a key mechanism for initiating detonation of shocked high explosives. Accurate continuum models that faithfully capture the pore collapse dynamics and resulting hotspot temperatures for multiscale initiation of high explosive are still lacking. Here, an atomistically informed dislocation plasticity model is developed for cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), which includes nonlinear thermoelasticity, pressure-dependent and temperature-dependent dislocation motion and homogeneous dislocation nucleation, and new melting criteria. Nanoscale pore collapse simulations based on the proposed model could well reproduce the pore collapse transition from a strength-dominated regime to a hydrodynamic regime observed in molecular dynamics results. During the pore collapse transition, dislocation motion and dislocation generation induced plasticity is decoupled and evaluated. It indicates that the homogeneous dislocation nucleation suppresses the dislocation motion. Through linkage analysis of dislocation physical quantity histories of tracer particles, this work clarifies the interplay between physical dependences and dislocation mechanisms on pore collapse behaviors for the first time. The results reveal that the transition of pore collapse regime emerges from the strong pressure-dependent homogeneous dislocation nucleation. In addition, the pore collapse responses and energy localizations of the proposed model are further compared with different strength models to prove the importance of pressure dependence and homogeneous dislocation nucleation on pore collapse behaviors. Based on the simulations of pore collapse, the potential heat sources are quantified to provide a physical understanding of hotspot formation mechanisms. The present work demonstrates a key step in multiscale modeling of high explosive initiation in that atomistic simulation results are directly used to guide and refine the mesoscale model of energetic crystal used in the continuum.

Explosively driven Richtmyer–Meshkov instability jet suppression and enhancement via coupling machine learning and additive manufacturing

The ability to control the behavior of fluid instabilities at material interfaces, such as the shock-driven Richtmyer–Meshkov instability, is a grand technological challenge with a broad number of applications ranging from inertial confinement fusion experiments to explosively driven shaped charges. In this work, we use a linear-geometry shaped charge as a means of studying methods for controlling material jetting that results from the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability. A shaped charge produces a high-velocity jet by focusing the energy from the detonation of high explosives. The interaction of the resulting detonation wave with a hollowed cavity lined with a thin metal layer produces the unstable jetting effect. By modifying the characteristics of the detonation wave prior to striking the lined cavity, the kinetic energy of the jet can be enhanced or reduced. Modifying the geometry of the liner material can also be used to alter jetting properties. We apply optimization methods to investigate several design parameterizations for both enhancing or suppressing the shaped-charge jet. This is accomplished using 2D and 3D hydrodynamic simulations to investigate the design space that we consider. We also apply new additive manufacturing methods for producing the shaped-charge assemblies, which allow for the experimental testing of complicated design geometries obtained through computational optimization. We present a direct comparison of our optimized designs with experimental results carried out at the High Explosives Application Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Detonation Soot: A New Class of Ice Nucleating Particle

AbstractTemperatures and pressures from high explosive detonations far exceed atmospheric conditions in typical combustion reactions, and consequently, detonation soot forms with physiochemical properties distinct from soot formed by combustion. In this study, samples of detonation soot from two high explosives, PBX 9502 and Composition B‐3, were analyzed. Ice nucleation experiments on soot collected after controlled detonations were conducted in the laboratory to probe immersion and contact mode freezing. Samples nucleated ice at temperatures warmer than commercially available nanodiamonds, which has a mean nucleation temperature of −20.7°C. Ice nucleation rate coefficients increase rapidly by two to three orders of magnitude below −20°C for every sample. Size‐selected 137 μm diameter particles produced during detonation in an ambient air atmosphere yield bimodal distributions of freezing temperature with primary and secondary nucleation modes centered at −20°C and −13°C, respectively. The presence of a secondary mode allows for enhanced ice nucleation rate coefficients (one to two orders of magnitude greater than samples without a secondary mode) at temperatures outside the influence of the primary mode (>−17°C). Given the observed onset nucleation temperatures of −9.2°C, our results imply that detonation soot of the type studied here would only need to reach an altitude of approximately 4 km to facilitate ice formation.

A block-spectral adaptive H-/p-refinement strategy for shock-dominated problems

An adaptive H-/p-refinement strategy using a novel sensor is devised and tested in a block-spectral compressible Euler code equipped with adaptive-mesh refinement (AMR) and high-order flux-reconstruction numerics. At each Gauss quadrature point (or solution point) within each spectral block (or mesh element) the discrete velocity jump ΔU = ∂U/∂y1Δy1+∂V/∂y2Δy2+∂W/∂y3Δy3 is calculated and normalized by the local speed of sound, a. The grid spacing, Δxi, is calculated in each direction as the distance between auxiliary Gauss-Lobatto points, staggered relative to the solution points. The polynomial order is increased from p=0 to p=pmax in regions of weak compression, (ΔU/a)crit<ΔU/a<0 and kept at p=pmax in regions of flow expansion ΔU/a≥0, while staying at the H=0 base mesh level. Regions experiencing strong compressions, i.e. ΔU/a<(ΔU/a)crit, are H-refined up to H=Hmax where Hmax is applied at the location of maximum compression, ΔU/a=min(ΔU/a) in the domain, while keeping p=0 to guarantee robustness and monotonicity of the solution in the H refined region. The critical value of (ΔU/a)crit= -0.06 is found to effectively separate smooth and non-smooth solution regions, supported by a 1D detonation initiation test case in ideal gas and a shock-to-detonation transition in high explosives. Using this value, the Sod shock tube, Shu-Osher problem, double Mach reflection and a 2D detonation in a high-explosive are simulated with the proposed adaptive H-/p-refinement. In the Sod shock tube case, p-refinement resolves the (weak) contact discontinuity while H-refinement enhances the grid resolution in the shock exploiting the monotonicity of the p=0 reconstruction. For the Shu-Osher problem, p-refinement captures the small-scale oscillations trailing the shock that would be otherwise attenuated, while H-refinement triggered by the ΔU-sensor appropriately tracks the shock. In the double Mach reflection problem, H-refinement confines the numerical diffusion around the reflected shock while p-refinement recaptures many physical features trailing the shock. Finally, in the 2D high-explosive detonation case, H-refinement follows the leading shock and resolves the curvature of the detonation wave, while p-refinement adds resolution to the trailing reaction zone. Finally, the proposed methodology is tested in a detonation-wave propagation test case in high-explosives with numerical predictions comparing favorably against experiments.

Experimental studies of confined detonations of plasticized high explosives in inert and reactive atmospheres

When explosives detonate in a confined space, repeated boundary reflections result in complex shock interactions and the formation of a uniform quasi-static pressure (QSP). For fuel-rich explosives, mixing of partially oxidized detonation products with an oxygen-rich atmosphere results in a further energy release through rapid secondary combustion or ‘afterburn’. While empirical formulae and thermochemical modelling approaches have been developed to predict QSP, a lack of high-fidelity experimental data means questions remain around the deterministic quality of confined explosions, and the magnitude and mechanisms of afterburn reactions. This article presents experimental data for RDX- and PETN-based plastic explosives, demonstrating the high repeatability of the QSP generated in a sealed chamber using pressure transducers and high-speed infrared thermometry. Detonations in air, nitrogen and argon atmospheres are used to identify the contribution of afterburn to total QSP, to estimate the duration of afterburn reactions and to speculate on the flame temperature associated with this mechanism. Computational fluid dynamic modelling of the experiments was also able to accurately predict these effects. Understanding and quantifying explosions in complex environments are critical for the design of effective protective structures: the mechanisms described here provide a significant step towards the development of fast-running engineering models for internal blast events.

Enhancing blast mitigation in tunnels with expansion chamber subjected to high explosives detonations for protecting underground facilities

This paper presents a numerical investigation into the effect of expansion chamber in mitigating overpressures and impulses in protective tunnels subjected to detonation of high explosives. Blast shockwave propagation in a protective tunnel, with dimensions of 160 m in length, 8.9 m in width and 7.2 m in height, was simulated using a computational fluid dynamics code, Viper::Blast. The design parameters of the expansion chamber cover a broad spectrum chamber lengths between 6.1 and 12.1 m, widths spanning from 10.7 to 97 m, length-to-width ratios from 0.0 (indicating no chamber) to 5.0, heights of 8.0 and 14.9 m, and chamber-to-tunnel width ratios in the range of 1.2 to 10.9 m. Two charge weights of 1000 and 2000 kg of TNT were employed to assess their influences. To ensure the reliability of the CFD model, mesh sensitivity analysis, overpressure stability assessments, and validation studies were undertaken. A parametric analysis was then conducted using the validated model to derive an optimal design for the expansion chamber within the specified tunnel. Recommendations for incorporating an expansion chamber into protective tunnels under blast events are provided.

Passive blast protection of buildings by ductile steel-based envelopes

The growth of industrialization and the rapid expansion of densely populated urban areas have increased the risk caused by technological and man-made hazards. In particular, the accidental or intentional detonation of high explosives (e.g., improvised explosive devices IEDs), can cause damages to buildings and infrastructures and severe harm people. These risks can be minimized by a better planning, design, and construction, e.g., avoiding brittle construction materials, especially within the building envelope, and adopting more robust construction techniques. The study presented in the paper investigates the capacity of light steel-based wall panels to resist the effects of external explosions. The experimental results showed the ultimate capacity of the wall panels is strongly dependant on the initial design conditions and panel-to-structure fastening solution. A numerical model has been also calibrated using Etabs program.

Experimental testing of liner tray walls subjected to near field blast

AbstractExplosions produced in urban or industrial areas due to accidental or intentional detonation of high energy explosives (e.g., improvised explosive devices IED) are low‐probability but high‐impact events. If standoff distance from buildings or other constructions is small, explosions can cause structural failures and serious injuries or deaths of people. Preventing buildings from collapse is essential to minimizing casualties among occupants. However, experience has shown that even if the collapse is prevented, high number of injuries can result from fragments and flying debris generated by the non‐structural components or building envelopes. This risk could be minimized through appropriate design and selection of construction materials for most exposed elements (i.e., building envelopes). Although heavy/stiff systems were long considered appropriate to protect buildings against explosive threats, lighter and flexible systems are increasingly used for modern buildings. By allowing damage (but not fragmentation), the envelope system can provide predictable response, with minimal injuries in case of an explosion.The study presents the results of full‐scale blast tests on liner tray walls attached to a steel frame building. Walls are tested against increasing blast charges until complete failure. The ultimate strength is given by the failure of the end fasteners, after large bolt hole elongations coupled with the pull‐through of the end fasteners.

CFD-Based Overpressure Evaluation Inside Expansion Chamber-Applied Protective Tunnels Subjected to Detonation of High Explosives

CFD-Based Overpressure Evaluation Inside Expansion Chamber-Applied Protective Tunnels Subjected to Detonation of High Explosives

Evaluating the effect of insensitive high explosive residues on soil using an environmental quality index (EQI) approach

The environmental impact of Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) detonation residues to soil quality was assessed using a series of outdoor soil mesocosms. Two different soils were used including a pristine sandy soil and a land-degraded soil collected from a training range. Both soils were spiked with an IHE mixture comprised of 53 % NTO, 32 % DNAN and 15 % RDX at three different concentrations 15, 146 and 367 mg/kg respectively. The concentration levels were derived from approximate residues from 100 detonations over a 2 week training period. A set of five physico-chemical and biological indicators representative of the two soils were selected to develop environmental quality indexes (EQI). It was found that none of the concentrations tested for the pristine soil affected the chemical, biological and physical indicators, suggesting no decrease in soil quality. In contrast, the EQI for the degraded soil was reduced by 24 %, mainly due to a decrease in the chemical and biological components of the soil. Therefore, it is concluded that depending on the soil health status, IHE residues can have minor or severe consequences on soil health. Further studies are needed to determine the environmental impact of IHE on soil and water especially in the case where a larger number of detonations are more likely to be carried out on a training range.

Extinction Imaging Diagnostics for In Situ Quantification of Soot within Explosively Generated Fireballs

AbstractFireballs produced from the detonation of high explosives often contain particulates primarily composed of various phases of carbon soot. The transport and concentration of these particulates is of interest for model validation and emission characterization. This work proposes ultra‐high‐speed imaging techniques to observe a fireball's structure and optical depth. An extinction‐based diagnostic applied at two wavelengths indicates that extinction scales inversely with wavelength, consistent with particles in the Rayleigh limit and dimensionless extinction coefficients which are independent of wavelength. Within current confidence bounds, the extinction‐derived soot mass concentrations agree with expectations based upon literature reported soot yields. Results also identify areas of high uncertainty where additional work is recommended.

Blast behaviour of precast segmental vs monolithic concrete beams prestressed with unbonded tendons: A numerical investigation

This study aims to numerically investigate the response of precast/prefabricated segmental concrete girders/beams (PSCBs) under detonations of high explosives. A new and effective method of applying prestressing force in tendons in LS-DYNA is explored and used. The working mechanisms of PSCBs vs conventional monolithic beams in resisting blast loads are comprehensively examined and discussed. The numerical results show that blast-induced damage to the beams is primarily caused by three different mechanisms, namely the propagations of blast-induced stress waves and plastic hinges, and the beam free-vibration deflection (global response). There are similar stress wave propagation and the resultant damage in the monolithic and segmental beams at the early stage when the joints are closed. The different damage patterns in these two beams are mainly due to the propagation of plastic hinges and the beam's free-vibration deflection. Damage is more severe and well distributed in the monolithic beam whereas damage to PSCB mainly concentrates in the segment next to the explosive and around the joints. The energy absorption mechanism provided by the relative movement between the segments is the main reason for the reduced damage in the PSCB. Although having larger displacement, the PSCB shows better blast resistance compared to the monolithic beam. Either increasing the prestressing reinforcement ratio or effective prestressing stress reduces the peak and residual displacement of the beam but increases concrete damage. Increasing the number of segments leads to a larger beam displacement response but reduces concrete damage. Energy dissipation (ED) bars are found to effectively unite the segments and hence result in the segmental beam having a similar blast behaviour as the monolithic counterpart.

Assessment of Passenger Security in Paratransit Buses

The main objective of this study was to assess usefulness of 3-D, nonlinear dynamic, explicit computer codes for transit safety and security research. An analysis of response of a paratransit bus structure under loading caused by high explosive (HE) detonation is presented. It was assumed that the cubic HE charge detonates in the air near the bus. The ground was modeled as a rigid stationary wall. The problem was studied using LS DYNA, an explicit, 3-D, dynamic, nonlinear finite element program. The HE detonation and the processes of shock propagation in the air were modeled using the mesh with the Euler’s formulation. The Euler’s mesh was modeled as a rectangular prism sufficiently large enough to cover the entire bus structure. The nonreflecting boundary conditions on the top and side surfaces of the Euler’s domain and the sliding interface on the bottom side for the contact with the ground were assumed.A finite element model of the Ford Eldorado Aerotech 240 paratransit bus was developed for this study. This model consisted of 73,600 finite elements and had 174 defined properties (groups of elements with the same features) and 23 material models.Computational analysis provided useful information about dynamic deformations and damage inflicted to the bus structure under load blast wave activated by the HE detonation. It allowed for detailed, rigorous analyses of time histories of accelerations, velocities, deformations, and stresses. Resulting acceleration and overpressure histories were correlated with expected blast injuries of the bus passengers. The data obtained can be used to improve passenger safety and to reduce the threat of suicidal terrorist attacks against public transit. Changes in the bus structure and replacement of some materials to build a safer class of vehicles can be carefully considered and implemented.

Two-stage carbon condensation model during detonation of high explosives

During detonating of high explosives with a negative oxygen balance, one of the products of the chemical reaction is condensed carbon. However, the lack of experimental data does not allow us to give a quantitative assessment of the carbon condensation process today. In this paper, a two-stage model of carbon condensation during the detonation of high explosives is proposed. We used small-angle X-ray scattering method to study the dynamics of the formation of carbon nanoparticles during the detonation of charges of a mixture of TNT and RDX.

High temperature and pressure regime soot: Physical, optical and chemical signatures from high explosive detonations

High temperature and pressure regime soot: Physical, optical and chemical signatures from high explosive detonations

On the kinetics of chemical reactions at the detonation of organic high explosives

The model of electrical conductivity developed earlier allows one to use electrical properties as a tool for the diagnostics of the reaction zone at the detonation of organic high explosives. The comparison of experimental data on electrical conductivity with both the results of experimental research and numerical modeling using Arrhenius kinetics is carried out. The contradiction of the thermal concept of the mechanism of the development of a chemical reaction during detonation is clearly demonstrated. An alternative based on the ideas of A. N. Dremin, J. J. Dick, C. S. Coffey, and F. E. Walker is discussed.

Extended JCZ3 Equation of State and JAGUAR Implementation for High Explosives

AbstractAn extended JCZ3 based equation of state for the modelling of high explosive detonation products has been implemented in the JAGUAR computer model. This development includes the parameterization of EXP‐6 potentials for individual products species, as well as mixing rules for the combination of species. Non‐linear variable metric optimization was used for the species parameterization, as well as for the solution of free energy minimized states. Explosive detonation and products expansion are typically modelled for JWL and JWLB high explosives thermodynamic equation of state development. An analytic c ylinder test model was developed for the comparison to experimental cylinder expansion test data and for the characterization of explosive products expansion and work output. Examples and comparisons to data are presented. Historically, streak photography was used for cylinder testing, whereas photon‐doppler velocimetry (PDV) is now standard. This has resulted in some changes in cylinder testing data reduction. A JAGUAR MSIAC web‐based application is currently under development for use by the MSIAC member nations.

Experimental analysis of fluid–structure interaction between a blast wave and a sandwich add-on armor

In various situations, targets with different characteristic dimensions are being exposed to blast waves generated by high explosive detonation. One of the existing mitigation methods consists of protecting the target from the explosion with a sandwiched crushable core between a front plate and the target. The pressure generated by the explosion is converted into the planar displacement of the front plate, which compresses the crushable core, delaying the transmission of the load to the target. The influence of the crushable core on the transmitted load in the form of a plateau stress is well described in the literature contrary to its influence on the transferred momentum. In this paper, momentum transmission during the crushing of the core has been experimentally investigated, taking into account the fluid–structure interaction effect, the mechanical behavior of the core, and the pneumatic effects generated by the air trapped into its cells. It is shown that the beneficial effects of fluid–structure interactions are often counterbalanced by the mechanical behavior of the core and that analytical models from the literature are sufficient to describe the order of magnitude of the uniaxial crushing process.

Verification of a Specialized Hydrodynamic Simulation Code for Modeling Deflagration and Detonation of High Explosives

Abstract A specialized hydrodynamic simulation code has been developed and verified for the simulation of one-dimensional unsteady problems involving the detonation and deflagration of high explosives. To model all the relevant physical processes in these problems, a code is required to simulate compressible hydrodynamics, unsteady thermal conduction, and chemical reactions with complex rate laws. Several verification exercises are presented which test the implementation of these capabilities. The code also requires models for physics processes such as equations of state and conductivity for pure materials and mixtures as well as rate laws for chemical reactions. Additional verification tests are required to ensure that these models are implemented correctly. Though this code is limited in the types of problems it can simulate, its computationally efficient formulation allows it to be used in calibration studies for reactive burn models for high explosives. This study demonstrates how a series of verification tests can be used to ensure that the various physics processes needed to simulate complex phenomenon can be tested to ensure that they are correctly implemented.

Ultraviolet Emissions from Explosive Detonation Breakout.

Detailed spectroscopic measurements of high explosive detonation breakout in the ultraviolet region are presented. Molecular features associated with CN, NH, OH, and N2 are observed and analyzed. Spectra indicate extreme temperatures well in excess of 5000K in the first few microseconds after breakout. Molecular bands are found to originate from the detonation products, as opposed to the ambient air, and are strongly attenuated in the presence of oxygen. Implications for forensic analysis of source explosive are discussed.