Observations Concerning Transverse Waves in Solid Explosives

Abstract

Transverse waves have been observed in detonating solid explosives using an optical technique. In some cases, the resulting detonation structure is very similar to that observed in gas phase detonations. In other cases the transverse waves appear to originate at a “wave head” in the charge and to diverge from the “wave head”. In this case, there are no transverse waves coming towards the “wave head”. This indicates that transverse waves are a result of a one-dimensional detonation instability rather than a cause of the instability. We have also performed some one-dimensional calculations of detonation instability using a gas phase equation of state. These calculations indicate that a completely unsupported one-dimensional detonation wave can undergo regular oscillations, and this supports the conclusion that transverse waves are a result of, not a cause of, detonation instability. On the basis of the calculations, we suggest qualitative reasons for the existence of instability and for the regularity of transverse wave structure.