Sensitivity of Explosives to Mechanical Stimuli

The initiation mechanism of an explosive when different mechanical stimuli such as impact, friction, firing pin impact or puncture, projectile or fragment impact, etc. are applied is similar and rather complex. The most acceptable theory that explains the initiation mechanism by mechanical stimuli is the so-called hot spots theory. 

The initial mechanical stimuli are tfynamic in nature. Therefore, under the dynamic action, strain and stress appear locally in the explosive, resulting in its local heating. The places of local heating, callwi hot spots, are the most probable causes of the initiation of an explosive. 

It is generally accepted that, in order to achieve successful initiation of the majority of explosives, hot spots should have the following characteristics  

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