Shock Initiation Experiments with Ignition and Growth Modeling on Low Density Composition B

Shock initiation experiments on low density (similar to 1.2 and similar to 1.5 g/cm(3)) Composition B were performed to obtain in-situ pressure gauge data, characterize the run-distance-to-detonation behavior, and provide a basis for Ignition and Growth reactive flow modeling. A 101 mm diameter gas gun was utilized to initiate the explosive charges with manganin piezoresistive pressure gauge packages placed between packed layers (similar to 1.2 g/cm(3)) confined in Teflon rings or sample disks pressed to low density (similar to 1.5 g/cm(3)). The shock sensitivity was found to increase with decreasing density as expected. Ignition and Growth model parameters were derived that yielded reasonable agreement with the experimental data at both initial densities. The shock sensitivity at the tested densities are compared to prior published work with near full density material.