Tunable Topological Features Achieved by Thermomechanical Processing of Reactive Materials Leading to Distinct Shock States*

The heterogeneity that exists within multiphase materials, specifically reactive materials (RM), generates unique topological features that can affect downstream shock wave propagation in extreme environments and influence dynamic phenomena such as fragmentation and shock induced reactivity. Thermomechanical processing (e.g. isostatic pressing, swaging, extrusion, ball milling, dynamic magnetic compaction) allows a degree of control to tailor topological and morphological features during RM consolidation. These consolidation methods generate unique microstructures specific to the respective processing route, and an understanding is sought on how the microstructures evolve during processing and how topology/morphology can influence energetic performance. Compacted materials generated by thermomechanical processing serve as inputs to hydrocode simulations, and by using microstructural characterization functions such as two-point statistics, the evolution of the topology that the features of interest have during a shock compression event (i.e. hot spot density, high-pressure zones, shock wave percolation) are measured.