Flash Radiographic Study of Detonation Propagation in Semi-Ring Charges of TATB

Abstract

Flash radiography was used to study the propagation of detonation in semi-ring charges of plastic bonded TATB with an inner steel shell when initiating normal detonation along a line on the outer surface of the charge. The shape of the detonation wave front at different times was determined. The shape of the front was found to be influenced by a layer of RDX based plastic bonded explosive placed on the surface of the main charge and having a detonation velocity ≈10% higher than that of TATB. It is shown that the position and shape of the detonation wave front in a cylindrical TATB charge is not described by the laws of geometric optics (Huygens principle) due to the features of detonation initiation in the initial section and the presence of the steel shell.