Abstract
The characteristics of the propagation of a detonation in chemically sensitized nitromethane in a dense porous medium are investigated. By introducing liquid NM+15% (by weight) DETA into densely packed beds of solid spherical glass beads 66μm to 2.4 mm in diameter, a highly heterogeneous explosive mixture is obtained. The critical (i.e., failure) charge diameter of this mixture is systematically measured in unconfined charges over a wide range of bead sizes. Velocity measurements are also made for the various charges. It is found that there exists a critical bead size above which the critical diameter decreases with increasing bead size and below which it decreases with decreasing bead size. This result indicates an abrupt change in the mechanism of propagation at the critical bead size. Velocity measurements further support this by emphasizing the different behavior above and below the critical point.
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Lee, J.J., Frost, D.L., Lee, J.H.S. et al. Propagation of nitromethane detonations in porous media. Shock Waves 5, 115–119 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02425043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02425043