Detonation performance experiments and modeling for the DAAF-based high explosive PBX 9701

Abstract

Detonation performance experiments and modeling are reported for the explosive PBX 9701, which is composed of 97% 3,3-diamino-4,4-azoxyfurazan (DAAF) and 3% vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (Kel-F 800) binder by weight. PBX 9701 is a newly-developed reducedsensitivity explosive with increased performance relative to the triaminotrinitrobenzene or TATB-based PBX 9502 while still retaining low sensitivity to mechanical insult. The first detonation performance measurements for this formulation are presented, including front-curvature ratesticks and cylinder expansion test data. Prior shock initiation data is also reviewed. These data are used to develop programmed burn and reactive flow calibrations for existing commonly-used performance models which allow engineering calculations with PBX 9701. The calibration process involves several enhancements relative to conventional approaches including the use of an analytical scaling correlation to speed the calibration process and development of a new methodology to improve the consistency between the programmed burn and reactive model calibration process and the resulting calculations. Overall, PBX 9701 is seen to exhibit improved performance relative to insensitive explosives, with a trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalence of 1.24. The detonation performance properties are found to be well captured by existing models.

Validation of a detonation product equation of state for an insensitive high explosive via slab geometry expansion tests

“…The majority of these involve hydrodynamic simulations based on programmed burn (PB) calculations, where, for timing, the normal component of the detonation velocity is assumed constant, and where comparisons of PB simulations with experimental Cu wall expansion data are made at a discrete number of expansion volumes. 4,6,10 In recent work, 9,[11][12][13] the present authors have developed an advanced methodology for calibrating the JWL equation of state of detonation products via CYLEX tests. It involves the use of a PB approach employing accurate detonation timing calculations via velocity-curvature detonation shock dynamics (DSD) modeling, combined with velocity-adjusted JWL EOS hydrodynamic simulations of the expanding HE detonation products driving the CYLEX Cu wall motion.…”

Detonation Performance Experiments, Modeling, and Scaling Analysis for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) High Explosive

“…Our model analysis uses a modern programmed burn (PB) methodology [9][10][11] for calibration of PETN at 1.65 g/cm 3 . Our chosen methodologies to represent the sub-scale timing and energy release modeling components of this PB method are described in the following sections.…”

“…Our iterative hydrocode-based process solves the energy release and products EOS parameters of this model [9][10][11] and is constrained by the PDV wall motion records. This process requires repeated simulations of the CYLEX test geometry and the extraction of the simulated wall velocity trace for comparison to the experimental data.…”

Progress and performance of energetic materials: open dataset, tool, and implications for synthesis

“…Some energetic compounds have a large critical diameter, 23 and the reported D values could be lower than those characteristic for a compound due to heat loss. 24 There are several variables in a detonation experiment and, depending on the experimental setup, charge length, and initiation type, the observed process could differ from the ideal detonation. In some cases, achieving the theoretical maximum density (TMD) experimentally is a problem, either due to poor pressing properties of powder, or due to high mechanical sensitivity.…”