AIAA 98-3467, Proceedings of 34th Joint Propulsion Conference, Cleveland, OH, July 1998.
| Selma S. Goldstein, Member AIAA The Aerospace Corporation El Segundo, CA 90245 |
Donald L. Jackson Lockheed Martin Astronautics Denver, CO 80201-0179 |
Barry T. Neyer, Member
AIAA EG&G Optoelectronics Miamisburg, OH 45343-0529 |
Contact
Address
Barry T. Neyer
PerkinElmer Optoelectronics
1100 Vanguard Blvd
Miamisburg, OH 45342
(937) 865-5586
(937) 865-5170 (Fax)
Barry.Neyer@PerkinElmer.com
Explosive performance margins are critical to designing explosive ordnance systems that include transitions along an explosive train from one component to the next. This paper will discuss explosive initiation and the physical parameters that affect it. It will then address the commonly used test methods to evaluate margin in detonation transfers, and review the advantages and disadvantages of each with respect to whether they address the appropriate physical variables. A new method is suggested based on a modern understanding of the detonation process, which was not as well understood at the time that many of the commonly used methods were first developed and adopted.