Velocity, fragment, detonation

High-velocity fragments, bullets, or projectiles impacting the explosive charges can cause their detonation. The determination of the sensitivity level of a given explcKive to such mechanical stimuli is of considerable practical interest. 

Uses. Minols have historically been used in four types of ordnance, a) underwater (mines, torpedoes and depth charges) where the confinement of water offsets some of the loss of detonation velocity, b) blockbuster bombs in which a sustained and powerful impulse is more destructive than a high peak press, c) concrete fragmentation bombs where the high impulse will impart a satisfactory fragment velocity but will not pulverize the concrete they contact on impact, and d) in general purpose (GP) bombs... 

Jr, C.W. Plummer, R.P. Woodburn V. Philip-chuk, Detonation Velocity Determinations and Fragment Velocity Determinations of Varied Explosive Systems and Conditions , National Northern Corp Final Summary Report NNC-F-13, Contract DAI-19-020-50l-ORD-(P>58 (Feb 1958) 12) Anon, EngDesHdbk, Explosives Series, Properties of Explosives of Military Interest , AMCP 706-177 (Jan 1971), 213-225... 

Initial velocities of explosively driven metal fragments can be accurately estimated by the so-called Gurney formula (see Vol 6, G195-R). The writer (Ref 81a) used the Ref 45 data referred to above to compute a Gurney constant /2E1 (for tangential detonation) of 3.04mm/ psec for 1.765g/cc PETN... 

In the steel tube test, the fragmentation pattern is a measure of whether or not a substance detonated, for example, a substance is capable of detonation if the tube is completely fragmented. The velocity of the reaction front is also a measure of detonation, that is, a detonation has occurred if this velocity is higher than the velocity of sound in the substance. When a witness plate is used, a substance is said to be capable of detonation if either a hole is punched through the plate or the tube is fragmented along its entire length. 

Stettbacher (1933) Brisance Determination by Compression of Small Cylinder and by Fragmentation Tests (pp 48-52) Detonation Velocity by Mettegang and by Dautriche Methods (54-59) Size and Duration of Flames Developed on Explosion (65-68) Volume and... 

Andreev Belyaev (Ref 8) describe action on various explosives of ions, electrons, U28S fragments, alpha particles, X-rays and of supersonic waves, but it is not stated how this action affects the deton velocity... 

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