Abstract:
There is considerable evidence that secondary explosive materials having a
relatively large (10-12%) proportion of HTPB binder do not exhibit DDT under
cook-off. However, the understanding of the mechanisms controlling the growth of
reaction in such experiments is incomplete. Most importantly, it is not known
whether a mechanistic reason exists to preclude DDT; it is possible that
existing techniques to explore cook-off simply do not offer the correct
conditions to allow DDT to occur. We present experiments in which impacts were
made against a RDX/HTPB PBX using a single-stage light gas gun. Electromagnetic
particle velocity gauges were embedded within the targets at different distances
from the impact face to record the onset of reaction, and in some cases
detonation. These experiments were also performed against RDX/TNT targets. The
time-resolved particle velocity histories have allowed comparison of some of the
factors governing growth of reaction, and have provided run-to-detonation
distance data for different impact stresses.
