Ramp Wave Loading of PBX 9501

The reactive behaviour of PBX explosives under quasi-isentropic ‘ramp wave’ loading conditions represents a challenge both in experimental generation and hydrocode modelling. A sapphire material graded areal density flyer system was used to ramp load PBX 9501 explosive using a two-stage gas gun; and the reaction of the explosive observed using the particle velocity gauge technique. The experimental data are compared to 3-D hydrocode modelling utilising the CREST reactive burn model. The effect of the ramp loading in comparison to sustained shocks and two shock desensitisation will be discussed.



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