Sympathetic Detonation Wave Attenuation Using Polyurethane Foam
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 8
Abstract
The unintentional initiation of munitions during production, storage, transportation, and handling is among the main sources of explosive hazard. Such unintentional initiation of explosives is termed sympathetic detonation, in which the detonation of a single explosive unit (or warhead) triggers the detonation of another, and subsequently starts a chain reaction. Because of this, the demand for resilient lightweight ammunition-separation systems within shipping or storage containers is increasing. This paper presents the development and testing of a cost-effective lightweight rigid polyurethane foam (RPF) separation system. The scaled gap test approach discussed is used as a practical tool to investigate the initiability of acceptor explosive charges by a blast wave generated from donor charges through the RPF as a blast wave attenuation medium. Different RPF specimens were prepared with different densities and silt particle mix ratios ranging from 0% (no silt) to 30%. The study results demonstrate the capability of the RPF as a lightweight cost-effective technique to attenuate the blast wave effects on acceptor explosives to safe levels.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support has been provided by the Egyptian Armed Forces and the Technical Military College. Support has also been provided through the McMaster University’s Centre for Effective Design of Structures (CEDS) funded through the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 8 • August 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 20, 2013
Accepted: Sep 3, 2013
Published online: Sep 5, 2013
Published in print: Aug 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Oct 12, 2014
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