Numerical modeling of charge diameter effect on detonation properties of emulsion explosives using Wood-Kirkwood detonation model

ABSTRACT

Emulsion explosives exhibit strong nonideal detonation behavior, which provides a challenge for accurate numerical modeling. We present a nonideal detonation model based on the Wood–Kirkwood detonation theory and EXPLO5, capable of modeling the effect of the charge diameter on steady-state detonation velocity. The elements of the model are calibrated based on experimental data for four different emulsion explosives. It was demonstrated that both simple pressure-dependent and Kirby and Chan’s two-step reaction rate models can satisfactorily reproduce the detonation velocity–charge diameter data of unconfined charges. In addition, the reaction rate parameters are found to be a function of the density of explosives.

KEYWORDS:

• Emulsion explosives
• nonideal detonation
• thermochemical code
• Wood–Kirkwood theory

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) under the projects IP-2019-04-1618.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation [IP-2019-04-1618] and the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) [IP-2019-04-1618].