Parametric study of single confined fragment launch explosive device

In this article, parametric study of single confined fragment launch device was carried out. The configuration proposed was further studied to derive the empirical relationship for effect of fragment size, charge size, confinement thickness on fragment velocity. The simulations were carried out using ANSYS-AUTODYNE explicit solver. Fragment velocities were estimated as a function of different parametric combinations of explosive quantities, charge length to diameter ratio, fragment height to diameter ratio, confinement thickness, fragment material and fragment mass. The data was further converted to charge to metal ratio under fragment and confinement. It was observed that, increase in confinement thickness, charge quantity and decrease in fragment height increases the fragment velocity. It is also noted that, charge to metal mass ratio under fragment significantly affects the fragment velocity. At the end, an empirical relationship for fragment velocity interms of all these parameters was established. Using these relations, two velocities 1831.92 m/s and 2523.9 m/s required for NATO STANAG 4496 IM test were estimated. The design parameters for these velocities are presented. Also, the results estimated using the empirical relationship has been compared with published experimental data. Error in the predicted velocities is within the acceptable range. The empirical relationship proposed will be useful for finalization of design of the fragment launch device.     

Insensitive energetic microspheres DAAF/RDX fabricated by facile molecular self-assembly

Insensitive energetic materials are promising in the defense weapons field. However, energetic materials still suffer from great challenges and the concern about their safety limits their utilization. In this work, insensitive energetic explosive 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-azoxyfurazan/hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (DAAF/RDX) microspheres were fabricated by self-assembly method. Rod-like DAAF/RDX was prepared by mechanical ball milling for comparison. DAAF/RDX composites with different mass ratios (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) were obtained. The morphologies and structures of as-obtained DAAF/RDX composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that DAAF/RDX microspheres exhibited regular shaped microspheres with sizes from 0.5 to 1.2 μm. There was no crystal transition during the modification process. The thermal properties of as-obtained materials were then evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and materials studio software. DAAF/RDX microspheres showed an advanced decomposition peak temperature compared with rod-like DAAF/RDX. The binding energy and peak temperature values at zero β_i (T_P0) of DAAF/RDX (90:10) increased by 36.77 kJ/mol, 1.6 °C, and 58.11 kJ/mol, 12.3 °C compared to DAAF/RDX (80:20) and DAAF/RDX (70:30), indicating the better thermal stability of DAAF/RDX (90:10). The characteristic drop height (H₅₀) of DAAF/RDX (higher than 100 cm) composites was higher than that of raw RDX (25 cm), suggesting significant improvements in mechanical safety. The preparation of DAAF/RDX microspheres is promising for the desensitization of RDX and useful for the formation of other materials and future wide applications.     

Formulation development and characterization of cellulose acetate nitrate based propellants for improved insensitive munitions properties

Cellulose acetate nitrate (CAN) was used as an insensitive energetic binder to improve the insensitive munitions (IM) properties of gun propellants to replace the M1 propellant used in 105 mm artillery charges. CAN contains the energetic nitro groups found in nitrocellulose (NC), but also acetyl functionalities, which lowered the polymer's sensitivity to heat and shock, and therefore improved its IM properties relative to NC. The formulation, development and small-scale characterization testing of several CAN-based propellants were done. The formulations, using insensitive energetic solid fillers and high-nitrogen modifiers in place of nitramine were completed. The small scale characterization testing, such as closed bomb testing, small scale sensitivity, thermal stability, and chemical compatibility were done. The mechanical response of the propellants under high-rate uni-axial compression at, hot, cold, and ambient temperatures were also completed. Critical diameter testing, hot fragment conductive ignition (HFCI) tests were done to evaluate the propellants' responses to thermal and shock stimuli. Utilizing the propellant chemical composition, theoretical predictions of erosivity were completed. All the small scale test results were utilized to down-select the promising CAN based formulations for large scale demonstration testing such as the ballistic performance and fragment impact testing in the 105 mm M67 artillery charge configurations. The test results completed in the small and large scale testing are discussed.     

Theoretical design of new bridge-ring insensitive high energy compounds by selected normal Diels-Alder reactions between NH2-substituted oxazoles and NO2/NF2/NHNO2-substituted ethylenes/acetylenes

In this work, NH₂-substituted oxazoles and NO₂/NF₂/NHNO₂-substituted ethylenes/acetylenes were designed and used as dienes and dienophiles, respectively, in order to develop new bridge-ring insensitive high energy compounds through the Diels-Alder reaction between them. The reaction type, reaction feasibility and performance of reaction products were investigated in detail theoretically. The results showed that dienes most possibly react with dienophiles through the HOMO-diene controlled normal Diels-Alder reaction at relatively low energy barrier. Tetranitroethylene could react with the designed dienes much more easily than other dienophiles, and was employed to further design 29 new bridge-ring energetic compounds. Due to high heat of formation, density and oxygen balance, all designed bridge-ring energetic compounds have outstanding detonation performance, 16 of them have higher energy than HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) and 2 others even possess comparative energy with the representative of high energy compounds CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane). The predicted average h₅₀ value of these bridge-ring energetic compounds is 83 cm, showing their low impact sensitivity. The NH₂ groups could obviously impel the proceeding of Diels-Alder reactions, but would slightly decrease the energy and sensitivity performance. In all, the new designed bridge-ring compounds have both high energy and low sensitivity, and may be produced through Diels-Alder reactions at relatively low energy barrier. This paper may be helpful for the theoretical design and experiment synthesis of new advanced insensitive high energy compounds.