The velocity of detonation and reaction zone profile in PBX 9502 as a function of initial densit

Abstract

It is known that PBX 9502 changes sensitivity and performance as a function of temperature, presumably due to changes in void morphology and density. These experiments have examined both the velocity of detonation (VOD) and reaction zone profile (particle velocity vs. time) as a function of pressed density. The rate sticks are 2 inches in diameter with an aspect ratio of 1:8. The reaction zone profile was characterized by photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV) at an aluminized lithium fluoride window and VOD was measured by both piezoelectric pins and time domain reflectometry (TDR). The density range examined was 1.700 - 1.895 g/cc (1.895 is production density). The results obtained are compared to those of in-situ heated rate stick experiments, and the void structure was characterized by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) methods in order to quantify changes in morphology.