RESEARCH OF SHOCK AND DETONATION WAVE PHYSICS

Methods of shock and detonation wave parameters determination

Vesna Džingalašević

Abstract

Necessary knowledge about laws, mechanisms and kinetics of ultrafast processes, change of internal structure, phase transformations and material behavior under pulse loading is acquired through fundamental and applied research. Laws of initiation processes, development and flow of detonation process and functional relations between wave shape, energy distribution and terminal ballistics (effect of the projectile on a target) are the basic parameters used during the weapon design. The phenomena, which are in direct connection with the effects of weapon explosive charge, depend on the high explosive decomposition mechanism (in function of the initial charge structure: composition, density, granulation, kind of explosive component, presence of desensitizer or inert material), distribution and the maximum use of energy realised in the detonation process.
Theoretical modeling of the high explosive detonation mechanism is based on the experimental research of detonation wave characteristics and initial physical and chemical explosive mixture properties. The indirect or direct measuring of detonation wave basic parameters and the recording of the higher-pressure zone ("himpik" or chemical zone) are accomplished by using modern dynamic methods. The subject of this paper is a review of methods used for detonation and shock wave parameters determination. The methods basic principles and measuring equipment and gages characteristics are presented. Through the experimental measuring methods, which are the result of fundamental and applied research in detonation and shock wave physics in the MTI YA, the conclusion about our capabilities and possible needs for new methods are drawn.

Key words: physics of explosion, detonation, detonation wave, shock wave, wave propagation, detonation parameters, high explosives, parameter measuring, measuring method