Hazard Initiation in Energetic Materials: Status of Technology Assessment*

Abstract

The Department of Defense group EMHIAT (Energetic Material Hazard Initiation Assessment Team) was formed in November 1985 to establish via a state-of-the-art assessment what research and technology needs are required to mitigate hazards associated with energetic materials. Team members, as part of their activity, polled industry and DOE contractor laboratories on present activities related to hazard initiation, particularly for solid propellants, and focused upon eight applied technology areas including critical or failure diameter, shock to detonation transition (SDT), deflagration to detonation transition (DDT), delayed detonation (XDT), thermal response and ignition, friction, impact, and electrostatic discharge (ESD). Although detailed needs and the long-range basic and applied research and technology plan in each of these eight technology areas are not yet finalized, certain general observations have been made and form the basis of the present paper. Areas discussed include chemical kinetics, energetic material properties, transient ignition and combustion, micromechanics, parametric studies, scaling, and damage. Finally, the relationships of small-scale ESD, friction, impact and thermal tests to each other, to processing scenarios, and to real-world threats were also of concern to the respondents.

Notes

* This manuscript is published as a service to an important element of the combustion community.