Matthew D. Holmes

Low-velocity impact ignition of thin metal-cased charges of PBX 9501

Accident scenarios involving explosives workers handling cased charges can result in low-velocity impact insults. A series of experiments was performed with 1mm thick metal plates encasing 25.4mm x...

Gas Generation of Heated PBX 9502

Uniaxially pressed samples of PBX 9502 were heated until self-ignition (cookoff) in order to collect pressure and temperature data relevant for model development. Samples were sealed inside a small gas-tight vessel, but were mechanically unconfined. Long-duration static pressure rise, as well as dynamic pressure rise during the cookoff event, were recorded. Time-lapse photography of the sample was used to measure the thermal expansion of the sample as a function of time and temperature. High-speed videography qualitatively characterized the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms at the time of cookoff. These results provide valuable input to modeling efforts, in order to improve the ability to predict pressure output during cookoff as well as the effect of pressure on time-toignition.