Chadd May

Measurement of carbon condensates using small-angle x-ray scattering during detonation of the high explosive hexanitrostilbene

The dynamics of carbon condensation in detonating high explosives remains controversial. Detonation model validation requires data for processes occurring at nanometer length scales on time scales ranging from nanoseconds to microseconds. A new detonation endstation has been commissioned to acquire and provide time-resolved small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) from detonating explosives. Hexanitrostilbene (HNS) was selected as the first to investigate due to its ease of initiation using exploding foils and flyers, vacuum compatibility, high thermal stability, and stoichiometric carbon abundance that produces high carbon condensate yields. The SAXS data during detonation, collected with 300 ns time resolution, provide unprecedented signal fidelity over a broad q-range. This fidelity permits the first analysis of both the Guinier and Porod/power-law regions of the scattering profile during detonation, which contains information about the size and morphology of the resultant carbon condensate nanoparticles. T...

Embedded fiber optic Bragg grating (FBG) detonation velocity sensor

In order to fully calibrate hydrocodes and dynamic chemistry burn models, initiation models and detonation models of high explosives, the ability to continuously measure the detonation velocity within an explosive is required. Progress on an embedded velocity diagnostic using a 125 micron diameter optical fiber containing a chirped fiber Bragg grating is reported. As the chirped fiber Bragg grating is consumed by the moving detonation wave, the physical length of the unconsumed Bragg grating is monitored with a fast InGaAs photodiode. Experimental details of the associated equipment and data in the form of continuous detonation velocity records within PBX-9502 are presented. This small diameter fiber sensor has the potential to measure internal detonation velocities on the order of 10 mm/μsec along path lengths tens of millimeters long.

Review of high-speed fiber optic grating sensor systems

Fiber grating sensors can be used to support a wide variety of high speed measurement applications. This includes measurements of vibrations on bridges, traffic monitoring on freeways, ultrasonic detection to support non-destructive tests on metal plates, and providing details of detonation events. This paper provides a brief overview of some of the techniques that have been used to support high speed measurements using fiber grating sensors over frequency ranges from 10s of kHz, to MHZ and finally toward frequencies approaching the GHz regime.

X-ray imaging and 3D reconstruction of in-flight exploding foil initiator flyers

Exploding foil initiators (EFIs), also known as slapper initiators or detonators, offer clear safety and timing advantages over other means of initiating detonation in high explosives. This work outlines a new capability for imaging and reconstructing three-dimensional images of operating EFIs. Flyer size and intended velocity were chosen based on parameters of the imaging system. The EFI metal plasma and plastic flyer traveling at 2.5 km/s were imaged with short ∼80 ps pulses spaced 153.4 ns apart. A four-camera system acquired 4 images from successive x-ray pulses from each shot. The first frame was prior to bridge burst, the 2nd images the flyer about 0.16 mm above the surface but edges of the foil and/or flyer are still attached to the substrate. The 3rd frame captures the flyer in flight, while the 4th shows a completely detached flyer in a position that is typically beyond where slappers strike initiating explosives. Multiple acquisitions at different incident angles and advanced computed tomography...

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.

Modeling Short Shock Pulse Duration Initiation of LX-16 and LX-10 Charges

Very short pulse duration, high pressure shock initiation experiments using electrically driven plastic flyer plates were performed on the explosives LX‐10 (95% HMX, 5% Viton binder by weight) and LX‐16 (96% PETN, 4% FPC 461 binder by weight) to measure threshold flyer velocities for detonation initiation. For LX‐16, threshold velocities were determined for various flyer materials, thicknesses and diameters. This data was calculated using the Ignition and Growth reactive flow model parameters previously determined for LX‐10 and LX‐16. Good calculated agreement with experimental threshold velocities was obtained by increasing the maximum fraction ignited during high pressure shock compression compared to the fraction ignited by lower pressure sustained shocks.

High speed measurements using fiber-optic Bragg gratings

Fiber grating sensors may be used to monitor high-speed events that include catastrophic failure of structures, ultrasonic testing and detonations. This paper provides insights into the utility of fiber grating sensors to measure structural changes under extreme conditions. An emphasis is placed on situations where there is a structural discontinuity. Embedded chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) sensors can track the very high-speed progress of detonation waves (6-9 km/sec) inside energetic materials. This paper discusses diagnostic instrumentation and analysis techniques used to measure these high-speed events.

Measurement of Carbon Condensates Using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering During Detonation of High Explosives

The lack of experimental validation for processes occurring at sub-micron length scales on time scales ranging from nanoseconds to microseconds hinders detonation model development. Particularly, quantification of late-time energy release requires measurement of carbon condensation kinetics behind detonation fronts. A new small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) endstation has been developed for use at The Dynamic Compression Sector to observe carbon condensation during detonation. The endstation and beamline demonstrate unprecedented fidelity; SAXS profiles can be acquired from single x-ray pulses, which in 24-bunch mode are about 80 ps in duration and arrive every 153.4 ns. This paper presents both the current temporal capabilities of this beamline, and the ability to distinguish different carbon condensate morphologies as they form behind detonation fronts. To demonstrate temporal capabilities, three shots acquired during detonation of hexanitrostilbene (HNS) are interleaved to show the evolution of the SAX...

Streak spectroscopy and velocimetry of electrically exploded Ni/Al laminates

We present an experimental and theoretical study of electrically exploded nickel-aluminum (Ni/Al) laminates, lithographically patterned into bow-tie bridge regions, and encapsulated with parylene. The exothermic nature of Ni/Al reactions is well-known at typical self-heating rates of 103–106 K/s, but electrical heating allows the interrogation of phenomena at heating rates which are five to six orders of magnitude higher. The use of time-resolved streak camera emission spectroscopy revealed that Ni/Al laminates heated at these higher rates exhibited brighter emission during the first 150 ns of emission than samples composed of either Al or Ni alone, suggesting an exothermic effect which rapidly started and persisted for at least this length of time. We also measured the transduction of electrical energy into kinetic energy through velocity measurements of encapsulation layers ejected from the bridge region. An empirical model using experimental power curves and one empirical fitting parameter successfully...

Comparison of Experimental Measurements of Current Distribution in a Flat Conductor With Simulated Results From the Partial Inductance Method

The current distribution in a stripline is calculated by using a partial inductance formulation to produce a circuit model that is evaluated with the SPICE program. The program also simulates the signals produced in a recently invented magnetic current probe. Measurements using the current probe have been made over a wide range of frequencies and compared to the calculations. Agreement is achieved within the measurement accuracy. This technique can be used directly to find current distributions with pulse excitations.