Shock Initiation of Detonation in Liquid Explosives

Abstract

Experimental studies of the initiation of liquid explosives by strong plane shocks (pressures 50 to 100 kbar) are described. These experiments demonstrate thermal explosion as a result of shock heating in the explosive. When the shock enters the explosive, the explosive is heated. After a delay, detonation in the heated, compressed explosive begins at the interface, where the explosive has been hot longest. The detonation proceeds through the compressed explosive at a velocity greater than the steady state velocity in uncompressed explosive, overtaking the initial shock and overdriving detonation in the unshocked explosive. Most of the work has been done on nitromethane, but molten TNT, molten DINA, Dithekite 13, and single crystals of PETN are shown to behave in the same way. Experiments showing the effects of bubbles and shock interactions in the explosive are presented.