Thermobaric and Enhanced Blast Explosives – Properties and Testing Methods

Abstract

1Introduction Abstract:T he review of the available literatureo nt hermobaric explosives and enhancedb last explosives (high-destructive explosives) is donei nt he paper.T hese types of explosives are defined, their common features and differences are shown.Special attention is paid to the physical phenomena accompanyingt he process of explosion of such fuel-enriched heterogeneous explosives. These materials are divided into liquid and solid mixtures and composite materials, including layeredc harges. The considered explosives are characterized in details, methodso fd etermination of their blast parameters are discusseda nd the results of experimental tests are presented.

Nanoscopic fuel-rich thermobaric formulations: Chemical composition optimization and sustained secondary combustion shock wave modulation

“…2Al (s) + 3/2O 2 Al 2 O 3(s) + 1700 KJ/mol (1) 2Al (s) + 3CO (g) Al 2 O 3 + 3C + 1251 kJ/mol (2) 2Al (s) + 3H 2 O (g) Al 2 O 3(s) + 3H 2(g) + 866 kJ/mol (3) 2Al (s) + 3CO 2(g) Al 2 O 3 + 3CO + 741 kJ/mol (4) 2Al (s) + N 2(g) 2AlN + 346 kJ/mol (5) This series of exothermic reactions represents the secondary combustion pathway according to reaction spontaneity and reaction rate [17,18]. It is commonly assumed that the nitridation channel (5) is much slower than oxidation channels (1)(2)(3)(4). Thereby, a large amount of energy is liberated during reactions of Al with primary detonation products, leading to sustained thermal loading [18,19].…”

“…detonation products as well as oxygen from the air raises the temperature of the gaseous product cloud, and strengthens the shock wave [4,9,10]. Pressure-time (P-t) history of TBX and its difference from classical high explosive are represented in Fig.…”

“…This detonation temperature is more than enough to bring the oxidizer of the secondary charge to the decomposition temperature releasing free oxygen, as well as the metal fuel to the melting point where the protective oxide layer will be removed exposing fresh fuel particles to free oxygen [17]. In case of confined detonation, multiple shock reflections have the potential generate high levels of static pressure and substantial damage on the surrounding structure [4]. Fig.…”

Thermal Environment inside a Tunnel after Thermobaric Explosion

“…Thermobaric explosive (TBX), a new subcomponent of volumetric explosives presents a number of advantages with respect to traditional high explosives, including longer duration, higher impulse shock wave, and diversified damage effects [1,2]. The weapons filled with TBX depend mainly on the pressure and thermal effects instead of armour-penetrating or fragmentation damage effects to achieve destruction, which overcomes the shortcomings of typical blast/fragmentation munitions for specific targets, such as buildings, field fortifications, and tunnels [3][4][5].…”

Thermal Stability of Explosive Mixture with Additives at Different Ambient Temperatures

“…Explosion phenomena lead to huge energy after burning process of explosive compositions, the detonation is the first source of this energy [4]. The detonation energy of classical explosives such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX), CL-20 (hexanitrohexaazaiso-wurtzitane), is considered to be of high destructive ability and enough thermal effects [5]. With a reason to enhance and improve the efficiency of energetic materials, many recent researches have proven that addition of metal particles [6] such as Al and Mg [7] increases the total energy and enhances the blast effects.…”