Characterization of Air-Filled Internal Channel of Aspect Ratio Two on Detonation Performance in PBX 9501

It has been shown that sub-mm void structures can substantially influence the propagation of detonation waves. The most extreme interactions these void structures can create are internal jets that, in long channels aligned with the detonation, have been recorded to reach velocities of more than 15 km/s. These jets have also been shown to ignite downstream explosives impacted by the jet. In previous studies void structures within explosives have been shown to cause delay to the propagation of the detonation and created complex re-initiation structures. This work seeks to characterize the influence of relatively short sub-mm wide channels with aspect ratios of two on the detonation wave propagation in PBX 9501. Streak camera imaging will be used to track the formation of the jet and downstream initiation of the explosive. Cutback experiments will also be fielded with breakout streak imaging to investigate the evolution of the downstream wave structure. Additionally, the hydrodynamic code CTH will be used to investigate the re-initiation physics and downstream shock wave evolution that is caused by the channel.