Small-Scale Cylinder Blast Imaging for Detonation Performance Screening

It has been shown that applying Rankine-Hugoniot relations and empirical relationships established by Cooper, the near-field expansion of the transmitted air blast wave from a detonating gram-scale sphere or boosted spherical shell of an explosive can provide the detonation velocity and CJ pressure, demonstrated by Biss, et al. However, spheres are difficult to press, and as reported by Sutherland and Benjamin, these experiments are prone to scaling issues: under-boosting and the minimal run distance may cause the underprediction of the explosive performance. Cylindrical charges are significantly easier to press, and the same mass used in a boosted shell configuration can afford longer run distances, helping to mitigate the effects of scale. Reported here are results from preliminary experiments to calculate the detonation velocity and CJ pressure from the imaging of near-field blast waves from detonating gram-scale RDX cylindrical charges. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A (22-038): Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.