T h i s is a preprint of a paper intended f o r pubhcalion i n a journal or proceedmgs. Since changes m a y be made before pubhcation, this preprint 1s made a v a l a b l e wlth the understanding that it w i l l not be clted or reproduced 1 without the p e r m i s s i o n of the author.

A general model for the shock initiation of explosive reaction in chemical explosives is proposed. The model is based on the concepts of: (1) the kinetics of decomposition in which ions and free radicals produced by the shock wave shear forces initiate chain reactions that contribute to and accelerate the decomposition produced by the thermally activated molecules; (2) the formation of statistically random reaction sites whose number in a specific explosive is a direct function of the shock pressure as the shock transits the explosive; and (3) a critical‐ energy‐fluence requirement for initiation. This model appears to apply to explosive reaction in gases, liquids, and solids.

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The Hopkinson split bar, instrumented with both a set of piezoelectric X-cut quartz crystal pressure transducers and a set of strain gauge transducers, was developed to enable investigation of the stress—strain—strain rate behavior in compression of brittle and/or low strength materials. The approach was applied to the study of a brittle, strain rate sensitive, polycrystalline, organic solid, and for purposes of comparison a relatively ductile, highly filled polymer. Comparison and discussion of data from the two materials illustrate the advantage of the technique to obtain valid, more accurate stress and modulus information at strain levels significantly lower than those satisfactorily obtained by using the split bar instrumented with strain gauges alone.