Doctoral Dissertations

Keywords and Phrases

Detonation; Detonation Shock Dynamics; Impact Engineering; Measurement Methodology; Plate Dent Test; Shock Interaction

Abstract

Detonation is the driving factor behind how an explosive, used in an array of applications, performs. Understanding and measuring detonation parameters of an explosive is key in explosive charge design and application. Currently, determining parameters is costly as the instrumentation needed is expensive in terms of price, maintenance, and personnel. This research examines two methods of determining detonation parameters through measurement of secondary material response to the detonation wave in an effort to provide an alternate, simple, and inexpensive method of measurement. The first of these studies focuses on the Gurney Model and demonstrates that the model's accuracy was diminished by charge casing material strength, length to diameter ratio of the charge, and by the charge to casing mass ratio. Given these conclusions, simulation was employed to understand how varying these characteristics affects the detonation wave itself. It was found that energy loss in a detonation wave was impacted by casing material characteristics. With a desire to measure these effects experimentally, the plate dent test, traditionally used to measure detonation pressure, was introduced. A series of studies were conducted to identify the potential for the plate dent test to measure both casing material and detonation wave characteristics. The first of these studies demonstrated repeatability and measurable uniqueness when only casing material was varied. The second developed regression fit equations that could correlate the dents to detonation velocity, impulse, and curvature. The final study adapted these relationships for varied casing thickness and charge diameters. This dissertation demonstrates the ability of the plate dent test to fully characterize an explosive’s detonation performance to within 15% accuracy.

Advisor(s)

Johnson, Catherine E.

Committee Member(s)

Perry, Kyle A.
Wescott, Bradley
Schlegel, Joshua P.
Donnell, Kristen M.
Schmidt, Jillian B.

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Explosives Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2024

Pagination

xix, 244 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes_bibliographical_references_(pages 61, 92, 127, 141, 187, 222 and 233-243)

Rights

©2024 Emily Michelle Johnson , All Rights Reserved

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 12444

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