Modeling unit cell interactions for the microstructure of a heterogeneous explosive: Detonation diffraction past an inert sphere

Abstract

We describe an approach to model multi-phase blast explosive, which is primarily condensed explosive by volume with inert embedded particles. The asymptotic theory of detonation shock dynamics governs the detonation shock propagation in the explosive. The detonation shock moves at a normal speed that depends on the shock curvature. The shock angle with the particle boundary is also prescribed. We describe theory to predict the behavior of a collection of such detonation shock/particle interactions in the larger aggregate. A unit cell problem, of a detonation shock diffracting over a sphere, is analyzed by analytical and numerical means. The properties of an ensemble of such unit cell problems are discussed with implications for the macroscopic limiting behavior of the heterogeneous explosive. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.