Parameter regulation of underwater shock waves based on exploding-wire-ignited energetic materials

Abstract

This paper proposed and verified a method for adjusting parameters of underwater shock waves. In the experiments, a metal wire with an energetic material coat was exploded by applying a pulsed current on it. Under different matches of size/material of wire, mass/type of energetic material, and injected pulsed current, characteristics of shock waves were obtained. It has been proven that peak pressure, impulse, and energy of shock waves can be conveniently regulated by simply changing the explosion of either the wire or its energetic material coat. Finally, the mechanisms of this method were analyzed and potential applications discussed.