Additively Manufactured Energetic Sensors (AMES)

The prospect of embedded sensors within high explosive charges is appealing for the purpose of continuous explosive system monitoring. To this end, we have begun development of fully detonable, additively manufactured, multifunctional sensor (AMES) packages for embedding within high explosive charges to enable real-time, in-situ measurements of properties relevant to performance and aging assessments. Continuous monitoring of static material properties such as strain, temperature, and humidity can potentially indicate adverse material response during system storage, transfer, or accident scenarios. Dynamic material property sensing can provide detonation performance data, enabling measurement of dynamic shock position. If all constituent materials within the AMES packages are reactive by design, it will be possible to provide additional capabilities as well. Sensors strictly manufactured from detonable materials provide functionality without the addition of dead weight. Each energetic sensor material formulation will also be individually tailored to replicate the detonation performance of the surrounding charge, rendering the sensor package invisible. Additionally, independently reactive sensor elements can provide alternate functionality via dynamic sensor removal.