Study of Secondary Reactions from Explosives Detonated within a Bombproof and Shock Tube System via Visible Spectrometry and Gas and Solids Collection.

An investigation into the secondary reactions of 5 selected explosives of nominally 2.3 lb and 5 lb charges has been performed. To investigate points of ignition and chemical potential for a secondary energy release, the following instrumentation was incorporated: total light output, visible spectrometry, blast pressure measurement, and gas and solids collection. Two internal blast structures were investigated: a 20 ft square bombproof room (ceiling height 16 ft) (only 2.3 lb charges were detonated within bombproof) and a 100 ft long × 4 ft diameter explosive shock tube. A comparison in performance of explosives detonated within both bombproof and shock tube displayed different results. Within the bombproof, after detonation but prior to initial wall impact, collected gas and solids displayed a large percentage of unburned fuels. After wall impact, the unburned fuel within the gas was greatly reduced. Collection within the shock tube at the first collection station, 9 ft from the point of detonation, displayed almost no unburned fuel (both gas and solids). Real time light emission and blast pressure measurements were correlated with collected gas and solids data. © 2004 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]