Enhanced combined effects in aluminized explosives by an innovative initiation system

Meaney, Daniel Joseph

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108652 Copy

Description

Title

Enhanced combined effects in aluminized explosives by an innovative initiation system

Author(s)

Meaney, Daniel Joseph

Issue Date

2020-05-22

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Glumac, Nick G

Committee Member(s)

Brown, Ronald E

Department of Study

Mechanical Sci & Engineering

Discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Convergent Detonation
• Aluminum Combustion
• Thermochemistry
• Cylinder Expansion Test
• Combined Effects
• CYLEX
• PBXN-111
• PBXN-110
• Precompression
• Insensitive Munitions
• Steady State Detonation
• Non-ideal explosives
• Size Effect
• Jet Stability

Abstract

A novel concept for enhancing performance from otherwise low-performance, insensitive energetic materials is suggested. The initiation mechanism, which is an essential feature of the concept, amplifies detonation pressure and resultant shaped charge jet velocity, responsible for effective energy increase and providing opportunities for achieving the combined effects of blast and directed energy. Attention is focused towards the use of aluminized explosives because of their blast potential and the degree of possible power amplification. In addition to strong bases of technical support, this study provides a plan for experimental demonstration and recommendations for addressing technology issues to more completely exploit the technology for precision strike and insensitive munitions. Recent experimental demonstrations of this design mechanism validate simulation predictions, but high-pressure regime in-situ pressure measurement techniques have been unable to fully capture experimental pressure data due to the extreme environment produced by dynamic compression. New experimental techniques are discussed in order to better supply models with accurate experimental data and probe for precompression events that may provide insight into the hydrodynamic processes involved. With the goal of improving warhead performance reliability and penetrator stability, improvements towards modeling convergent detonation within non-ideal explosives are made. In detail, this work provides a critical assessment of previous contributors that have aimed to understand the intricate role of aluminum in prompt detonation for divergent and convergent schemes. This clarity addresses the predictive discrepancies of large-scale tests noted by LLNL, AFRL, NSWC-IH, and others. This work identifies the challenges centered around the size effect and the incomplete modeling of aluminum reactions. In order to better quantify the performance improvements of this new initiator design, revisions to equation of state thermochemical energy values are made that improve model consistency with detonation behavior and theory. Re-interpretations are provided for the standardization of cylinder expansion tests and its utility for non-ideal explosives. Finally, recommendations are provided to further characterize run-to-steady state detonation trends and investigate precompression phenomena within non-ideal explosives.

Graduation Semester

2020-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108652

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Daniel Meaney

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