Carl Johnson

Time resolved small angle X-ray scattering experiments performed on detonating explosives at the advanced photon source: Calculation of the time and distance between the detonation front and the x-ray beam

Time resolved Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) experiments on detonating explosives have been conducted at Argonne National Laboratorys Advanced Photon Source Dynamic Compression Sector. The purpose of the experiments is to measure the SAXS patterns at tens of ns to a few μs behind the detonation front. Corresponding positions behind the detonation front are of order 0.1–10 mm. From the scattering patterns, properties of the explosive products relative to the time behind the detonation front can be inferred. This report describes how the time and distance from the x-ray probe location to the detonation front is calculated, as well as the uncertainties and sources of uncertainty associated with the calculated times and distances.

Characterization of detonation soot produced during steady and overdriven conditions for three high explosive formulations

The detonation of high explosives (HE) produces a dense fluid of molecular gases and solid carbon. The solid detonation carbon contains various carbon allotropes such as detonation nanodiamonds, onion-like carbon, graphite and amorphous carbon, with the formation of the different forms dependent upon pressure, temperature and the environmental conditions of the detonation. We have collected solid carbon residues from controlled detonations of three HE formulations (Composition B-3, PBX 9501, and PBX 9502). Soot was collected from experiments designed to produce both steady and overdriven conditions, and from detonations in both an ambient (air) atmosphere and in an inert Ar atmosphere. Differences in solid carbon residues were quantified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and carbon isotope measurements. Environmental conditions, HE formulation, and peak pressures influenced the amount of and isotopic composition of the carbon in the soot. Detonations in an Ar atmosphere produced greater amounts of ca...

The interaction of explosively generated plasma with explosives

It has been shown that the temperature of explosively generated plasma (EGP) is of the order of 1 eV and plasma ejecta can be focused to achieve velocities as high as 25 km/s. Proof-of-principle tests were performed to determine if EGP could be used for explosive ordnance demolition and other applications. The goals were: to benignly disable ordnance containing relatively sensitive high performance explosives (PBX-9501); and to investigate the possibility of interrupting an ongoing detonation in a powerful high explosive (again PBX-9501) with EGP. Experiments were performed to establish the optimum sizes of plasma generators for the benign deactivation of high explosives, i.e., the destruction of the ordnance without initiating a detonation or comparable violent event. These experiments were followed by attempts to interrupt an ongoing detonation by the benign disruption of the unreacted explosive in its path. The results were encouraging. First, it was demonstrated that high explosives could be destroyed...

Initiation train experiments to enable detonator diagnostics

A measurement of when the detonator breaks out and lights an initiation train has been a desirable diagnostic for both modelers and experimentalists alike. A detonator diagnostic has been developed using magnet wire circuit to transmit a signal when the detonation wave breaks the cup. This is used to establish time zero for a variety of types of shots. This paper describes the design and testing challenges of this diagnostic, and the tests conducted to prove the concept. The value of this diagnostic is that it is an in situ measurement, meaning it can easily be housed inside the booster counterbore on the detonator face. It provides an unambiguous measurement of time zero, when coupled with diagnostics that supply detonator bridge burst information.

Reactive flow calibration for diaminoazoxyfurazan (DAAF) and comparison with experiment

Diaminoazoxyfurazan (DAAF) has a number of desirable properties; it is sensitive to shock while being insensitive to initiation by low level impact or friction, it has a small failure diameter, and its manufacturing process is inexpensive with minimal environmental impact. In light of its unique properties, DAAF based materials have gained interest for possible applications in insensitive munitions. In order to facilitate hydrocode modeling of DAAF and DAAF based formulations, we have developed a set of reactive flow parameters which were calibrated using published experimental data as well as recent experiments at LANL. Hydrocode calculations using the DAAF reactive flow parameters developed in the course of this work were compared to rate stick experiments, small scale gap tests, as well as the Onionskin experiment. Hydrocode calculations were compared directly to streak image results using numerous tracer points in conjunction with an external algorithm to match the data sets. The calculations display ...