Thermal hazard assessment of TKX-50-based melt-cast explosive

In the present study, thermal hazards of TNT and DNAN used as the molten binder in TKX-50-based melt-cast explosives were comparatively studied through accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) and Cook-off experiments. Two kinds of ARC operation modes were performed to investigate the thermal safety performance under adiabatic conditions (HWS mode) and constant heating (CHR mode). The obtained results demonstrated that at both heating modes, DNAN/TKX-50 outperformed TNT/TKX-50 from the thermal safety point of view. However, the sensitivity to heat of the samples was reverse because of the different heating modes. In addition, the results of thermal hazard assessment obtained from the cook-off experiment complied with ARC analysis which indicated the molten binder TNT replaced by DNAN would reduce the hazard of the TKX-50 melt cast explosive. Furthermore, the results of cook-off experiments also showed that DNAN/TKX-50 outperformed TNT/TKX-50 from the aspect of thermal stability, which was consistent with the result of CHR mode because of the similar heating process.     

The investigation of NTO/HMX-based plastic-bonded explosives and its safety performance

3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is the main component of insensitive munitions (IM) formulation because of its outstanding insensitive properties.In this paper,a series of NTO/HMX-based composite explosives were prepared and characterized.The study focuses on the effect of NTO on the performance of the formulations,especially the safety performance.The results revealed that the mechanical sensi-tivity of formulations was associated with NTO content,as well as the thermal conductivity,specific heat capacity and Arrhenius parameters.Then,the high amount of NTO using in formulation was proved to be helpful for NTO/HMX-based formulation to exhibit good thermal safety.Besides,by accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) and a modified cook-offequipment,the pressure and pressure rise rate were proved as the important indicator for judging the thermal safety performance in confined spaces.Finally,the numerical simulation was used as a credible method for predicting the respond temperature of cook-off experiment.     

Effects of module number and firing condition on charge thermal safety in gun chamber

Thermal safety of modular charge which is fed into and retained in the chamber after gun fires consecutively is first investigated with cook-off method.A two-dimensional cook-off model of modular charge in gun chamber is established and the cook-off process of modular charge in gun chamber is numerically simulated.Then the effects of module number and firing condition on charge thermal safety are evaluated by researching the cook-off response characteristics of modules.The results show that,under conditions of different module numbers the cook-off responses all occur on the module closest to the boundary of missile,and the single-base propellants located at the inner surface of cartridge ignite first.When the number of loaded module changes from 1 to 6,the cook-off response temperatures vary little,only in a small range of 478.1 K-482.4 K.The cook-off response times decrease logarithmically in the range of 211.2 s-166.7 s with the increasing length of residual air gap in gun chamber.The simulation results are well matched with the experimental data.Furthermore,different firing conditions have great influence on the cook-off response time,minor influence on the initial response position and little in-fluence on the response temperature.Under the three conditions of consecutive 32 launches with 5 rounds/min,43 launches with 1 round/min,and 41 launches with different firing frequencies,the cook-off response temperatures are 479.2 K,481.1 K and 479.9 K respectively and the response times are 709.2 s,211.2 s and 214.4 s respectively.The response position is near the middle area of the inner cartridge surface in the former condition and near the right area in the latter two conditions.     

Experimental investigation of a cook-off temperature in a hot barrel

The experimental investigations of the effect of contact time/temperature on initiating the cook-off using 7.62 mm calibre cartridge cases (CC) were conducted previously. These cartridges were filled with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) double based (DB) propellant (Bulls Eye) and were loaded in a hot chamber. The thermal explosion temperature is of great significance to both weapon designers and safety inspectors as it provides the operational limit and safe operating temperature. For CC under test, it was found that the cook-off temperatures of this propellant were encountered with the heat transfer profile of the simulated gun barrel between 151.4 °C and 153.4 °C, with a reaction occurring in less than 300 s after the round was chambered. Usefully, each experiment was found to be consistent and repeatable.