University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Enhanced combined effects in aluminized explosives by an innovative initiation system

Meaney, Daniel Joseph

Content Files
MEANEY-THESIS-2020.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108652

Description

Title
Enhanced combined effects in aluminized explosives by an innovative initiation system
Author(s)
Meaney, Daniel Joseph
Issue Date
2020-05-22
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Glumac, Nick G
Committee Member(s)
Brown, Ronald E
Department of Study
Mechanical Sci & Engineering
Discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2020-10-07T22:48:03Z
Keyword(s)
  • Convergent Detonation
  • Aluminum Combustion
  • Thermochemistry
  • Cylinder Expansion Test
  • Combined Effects
  • CYLEX
  • PBXN-111
  • PBXN-110
  • Precompression
  • Insensitive Munitions
  • Steady State Detonation
  • Non-ideal explosives
  • Size Effect
  • Jet Stability
Abstract
A novel concept for enhancing performance from otherwise low-performance, insensitive energetic materials is suggested. The initiation mechanism, which is an essential feature of the concept, amplifies detonation pressure and resultant shaped charge jet velocity, responsible for effective energy increase and providing opportunities for achieving the combined effects of blast and directed energy. Attention is focused towards the use of aluminized explosives because of their blast potential and the degree of possible power amplification. In addition to strong bases of technical support, this study provides a plan for experimental demonstration and recommendations for addressing technology issues to more completely exploit the technology for precision strike and insensitive munitions. Recent experimental demonstrations of this design mechanism validate simulation predictions, but high-pressure regime in-situ pressure measurement techniques have been unable to fully capture experimental pressure data due to the extreme environment produced by dynamic compression. New experimental techniques are discussed in order to better supply models with accurate experimental data and probe for precompression events that may provide insight into the hydrodynamic processes involved. With the goal of improving warhead performance reliability and penetrator stability, improvements towards modeling convergent detonation within non-ideal explosives are made. In detail, this work provides a critical assessment of previous contributors that have aimed to understand the intricate role of aluminum in prompt detonation for divergent and convergent schemes. This clarity addresses the predictive discrepancies of large-scale tests noted by LLNL, AFRL, NSWC-IH, and others. This work identifies the challenges centered around the size effect and the incomplete modeling of aluminum reactions. In order to better quantify the performance improvements of this new initiator design, revisions to equation of state thermochemical energy values are made that improve model consistency with detonation behavior and theory. Re-interpretations are provided for the standardization of cylinder expansion tests and its utility for non-ideal explosives. Finally, recommendations are provided to further characterize run-to-steady state detonation trends and investigate precompression phenomena within non-ideal explosives.
Graduation Semester
2020-08
Type of Resource
Thesis
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108652
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2020 Daniel Meaney

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