Loading high explosive

To arrive at a perspective on magnitudes of pressure, consider two types of loadings, planar impact and planar detonation of high explosives, which are perhaps the two most common procedures. Figure 1.1 shows shock-... 

Fig. 3.2. Controlled, high pressure shoek loading ean be routinely earried out with large diameter plane wave explosive lenses whieh initiate Detonation in cylinders of high explosives with known, reproducible behavior. Detonation waves from the explosive are transmitted into metal plates which can serve as standards and on which samples to be studied are placed.

Table 3.2. High explosive loading systems characteristics (after Wackerle [62W01], Gust et al. [73G01] ).

The high explosives, baratol or Composition B-3, are used to produce the plane wave loading into the driver plates. These explosives have been widely studied in substantial work at Los Alamos. Plane waves are introduced into the explosive pads with either P-22 or P-40 plane-wave generators developed at Los Alamos. The Bear system is based on the 56 mm diameter of the P-22, while the larger sample size Bertha system is based on the 102 mmdiam of the P-40. More details on sample dimensions are reported by Graham [87G03]. 

EH. Zomig, ibid, 19-22 (1926) (Organization and administration of development work at Picatinny Arsenal) 5) J.P. Harris, ibid, 40-48 (1926) (Loading ammunition at Picatinny Arsenal) 6) CJ, Bain, ibid. 49-52 (1926) (High explosives at picatiiny Arsenal) 7) F. Olsen, ibid, 53—57 (1926) (The relation of Picatinny Arsenal to field service) 8) W.H. Tschap pat, ibid, 131—34 (1926) (The Lake Denmark explosion its effect on Picatinny Arsenal)... 

The company standards classify this facility as "high explosion potential," requiring control buildings that are located at this distance [125 ft (38 m)] from a potential explosion be designed to a minimum load of 10 psi (0.69 bar) side-on overpressure and 20 ms blast load. It was determined that this... 

For explosions in enclosures involving high explosives, solid propellants, high explosive with combustible materials in contact, or combustible mist, dust, or gaseous explosive mixtures, the long-duration gas pressures caused by confinement of the products of the explosions can be the dominant loads causing structural failure. 

Shock Response Versus Quasi-Static Response for Internal Blast. We noted earlier that internal detonations of high explosives within structures caused both initial and reflected shock loadings, plus longer term gas pressure loads called quasi-static pressures. Figure 11 is a reproduction of a pressure trace showing both phases of the loading. 

Spot coverage detectors are normally mounted as close as possible to the point of potential ignition. Examples are the extruder/cutter in a high explosives machining operation or the compression point in a shell loading machine. Spot detectors assure the fastest possible detection time by physically being mounted the closest to the point of ignition. 

Owing to their intrinsic safety and inexpensive nature, AN/fuel formulations have almost completely replaced dynamites as the mining explosive. As a result, they are by far the most widely used explosive. AN formulations are sold as AN prill or solution, ANFO pre-mixed, AN water—gel (although this is becoming obsolete) AN emulsions, either in cartridges or as bulk material that is brought to the site and loaded directly from the tmck to the borehole and heavy ANFO (ANFO folded into an AN emulsion). AN formulations usually require the use of a high explosive booster, but powerful and cap-sensitive formulations can be prepared. 

Typical HE-T (High-Explosive-Tracer) Artillery Projectile, such as used in 120-mm HE-T, Comp B, M356 (T15E3) Separated Ammunition is shown in Fig 1-2. It consists of a forged steel body loaded with 7.84 lb of Composition B and fitted with a PD fuze. 

FNP (Esplosivo). High Explosive compn consisting of AN 75, PETN 20 wax 5%. Was used during WWII press-loaded in some projectiles (Ref 28, p 332)... 

Fracturing of Metal in Detonation or Fracturing of Metal Under Impact Loading by High Explosives. See Vol 4, p D542-R... 

Note 14—For quantity and distance purposes detonating fuse up to 60 grains per foot should be calculated as equivalent to nine pounds of high explosives per 1,000 feet. Heavier case loads should be rated proportionately. 

The technique of pressing is often used for loading powdered explosive compositions into small containers. Pressing does not require very high temperatures and can be carried out under vacuum. The whole process can be automated resulting in high volume productions. However, the machinery is expensive and the process is more hazardous than casting. 

After termination of WWI there was left in Europe great quantities of proplnts and smaller quantities of high explosives. Some of them were loaded into ammo, others stored in boxes, cans, bags, etc. Some unused NC was stored in the wet condition. 

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