Analysis of Wave Curvature and Rate Stick Experiments for Monomodal Explosives with Different Crystal Quality and Particle Size Characteristics*

Wood-Kirkwood theory and computer simulations of rate stick and wave curvature experiments of two sets of monomodal explosives are presented. One set [1] included two explosives composed of RDX or reduced sensitivity RDX representing a range of crystal quality. The second set [2] of explosives had mean particle sizes of 6, 134 and 428 $\mu $m. Wood-Kirkwood theory was used to calculate the reaction zone width from the wave curvature experiments. Two-term ignition and growth reactive model simulations for the first set of experiments were performed. Ignition and growth parameters were determined from embedded gauge experiments and critical diameter tests. The ability of the simulations to adequately predict shape of detonation velocity versus diameter curves and to replicate wave curvature data is presented. 1. G.T. Sutherland, 13$^{th}$ International Detonation Symposium, to be published. 2. H. Moulard, 9$^{th}$ International Detonation Symposium, pp. 18-24.