NON‐SHOCK INITIATION MODEL FOR EXPLOSIVE FAMILIES: EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The “DaMaGe‐Initiated‐Reaction” (DMGIR) computational model has been developed to predict the response of high explosives to non‐shock mechanical insults. The distinguishing feature of this model is the introduction of a damage variable, which relates the evolution of damage to the initiation of a reaction in the explosive, and its growth to detonation. Specifically designed experiments were used to study the initiation process of each explosive family with embedded shock sensors and optical diagnostics. The experimental portion of this model development began with a study of PBXN‐5 to develop DMGIR model coefficients for the rigid plastic bonded family, followed by studies of the cast, and bulk‐moldable explosive families. The experimental results show an initiation mechanism that is related to input energy and material damage, with well defined initiation thresholds for each explosive family. These initiation details will extend the predictive capability of the DMGIR model from the rigid family into the cast and bulk‐moldable families.