Open AccessSpecific surface: a missing parameter in high-explosive modeling
Author(s) -
Cheng Liu
Publication year - 2003
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/963424
Subject(s) - explosive material , phase (matter) , homogeneous , constitutive equation , microstructure , surface (topology) , materials science , volume (thermodynamics) , statistical physics , mechanics , computer science , thermodynamics , mathematics , physics , composite material , chemistry , geometry , finite element method , quantum mechanics , organic chemistry
To accurately describe the constitutive response of high explosives such as PBX 9501, we need to consider the heterogeneous explosive as a composite rather than a homogeneous solid. Because of the extremely complex nature of the structural distribution of the contituents, the phase-volume fractions alone are insufficient to characterize such a complicated microstructure. What other parameter (or parameters) do we need to consider? How do we incorporate the parameter (or parameters) into a theoretical framework for developing a constitutive theory for high explosives? In this report we identify the so-called specific surface (i.e., the interfacial area-per-unit-volume of a multi-phase heterogeneous solid) as an additional parameter used in modeling the constitutive behavior of high explosives. Both the phase-volume fractions and the specific surface are needed to characterize the microstructure of the material. This report (1) provides a detailed argument that supports this conclusion, (2) presents a method (based on optical micrographs) for estimating the specific surface of PBX 9501, and (3) discusses the charcateristics of theoretical frameworks designed to construct constitutive models of high explosives