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Sound speed measurements in shock compressed solids have long been valuable for the development of equations of state at extreme conditions, shock-induced phase transformations, and a comprehensive characterization of the thermophysical response of high-pressure standards. We present results from plate impact experiments to 190 GPa to determine the longitudinal sound speed in copper—an important high-pressure standard. Surprisingly, the sound speeds determined using the two most common experimental techniques—the front surface impact (FSI) approach and the release wave overtake (RWO) approach—diverge significantly for stresses greater than ∼100 GPa. Further analyses, including numerical simulations, show that the FSI experiments provide the correct sound speeds and that fundamental assumptions underlying the RWO method are likely violated due to the complex release response of shock compressed copper. The sound speeds determined using the FSI approach provide for a more accurate high-pressure description of copper in dynamic compression experiments. The present findings are in contrast to the results for shock compressed silver [Wallace et al., Phys. Rev. B 104, 214106 (2021)], where both methods provided consistent sound speed results. Thus, the findings presented here demonstrate the need to experimentally verify the validity of the RWO method on a case-by-case basis. Finally, we note that even at the high stresses in the present work, the copper unloading response shows a time-dependent, quasielastic response often observed in metals at lower stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the differences in the shock compression and detonation response of insensitive high explosives (IHEs) and conventional HEs (CHEs) is a long-standing need in HE science and technology. Having previously examined 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) IHE single crystals [Winey et al., J. Appl. Phys. 130, 015902 (2021)], the shock and detonation response of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)—a widely used CHE—was determined using wave profile measurements in ∼250 μm thick single crystals shock compressed to 63 GPa. In marked contrast to FOX-7, RDX single crystals shocked along the [100] and [111] orientations showed wave profile features consistent with chemical decomposition onset at 15 GPa. These features were more pronounced for [100] RDX, suggesting a higher decomposition rate compared to [111] RDX. At 51 GPa and above, flat-topped single waves were observed for both orientations, showing the classic Chapman–Jouget (C–J) detonation response in which the decomposition is completed within the detonation front. The Hugoniot states and sound speeds determined for the detonation products were similar for both [100] and [111] orientations, showing that the overdriven detonation response for RDX does not depend on crystal orientation. The C–J pressure for RDX single crystals (35 GPa)—determined experimentally—is comparable to that of FOX-7. However, compared to FOX-7, chemical decomposition onset for RDX occurs at much lower pressures and the overdriven C–J detonation response occurs at higher pressures. The present findings constitute the first experimental comparison of the shock and detonation response of conventional and insensitive HE single crystals over a broad pressure range below and above the C–J pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the desired combination of superior detonation performance and insensitivity to shock initiation has been a long-standing goal in high explosive (HE) science and technology. Having previously established the shock insensitivity of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (also known as DADNE or FOX-7) single crystals to 20 GPa (extended to 25 GPa in this work), the FOX-7 detonation response was determined through wave profile measurements in ∼250 μm thick single crystals shock compressed to 64 GPa. Quite unexpectedly, FOX-7 demonstrated the classic Chapman–Jouguet (C–J) detonation response—reaction completion in the detonation front (<0.7 ns) at pressures of 44 GPa and higher—not observed in other insensitive high explosives. The experimentally determined C–J pressure (35 GPa), detonation wave velocities and the detonation products equation of state—together with shock insensitivity to 25 GPa—demonstrate that FOX-7 single crystals display a near-optimal combination of high performance and shock insensitivity, not observed in another HE crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insensitive high explosives (IHEs)—which do not compromise performance—are of considerable interest as a safer alternative to conventional high explosives, such as pentaerythritol tetranitrate and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine. Despite the strong interest in using IHEs, shock compression experiments on IHE single crystals have not been reported. To address this need, plate impact experiments were conducted to measure wave profiles in 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) single crystals—a representative IHE crystal—shocked to 21 GPa longitudinal stress. Particle velocity histories, measured using laser interferometry, show a clear two-wave structure (elastic–inelastic response) at modest stresses (<3.8 GPa). Wave profiles at higher stresses show a single (overdriven) wave. Measured shock velocities and wave profiles provide accurate Hugoniot data to 21 GPa. The measured wave profiles to 21 GPa show no sign of energy release due to chemical decomposition and constitute the first demonstration of an IHE single crystal insensitivity under plane shock compression. Numerical simulations using a phenomenological material model developed for FOX-7 showed good agreement with the measured wave profiles. The experimental findings and continuum simulations presented here constitute a significant first step in gaining an insight into the shock compression response of IHE single crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]