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A Modified Type‐12 Impact Sensitivity Test Apparatus for Explosives
Author(s) -
Phillips Jason J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.201100074
Subject(s) - bushing , sensitivity (control systems) , explosive material , bar (unit) , split hopkinson pressure bar , installation , materials science , hydrostatic test , high density polyethylene , composite material , structural engineering , mechanical engineering , polyethylene , engineering , strain rate , chemistry , organic chemistry , electronic engineering , physics , meteorology
This investigation is to improve the Type‐12 impact sensitivity test apparatus through the merging of basic split‐Hopkinson pressure bar principles with existing impact sensitivity testing methods. This is accomplished mainly through the addition of resistance strain gage equipment. Upon completion of the modifications to the apparatus, incident pressure waves created by impact are recorded, as well as sharp pressure releases suspected to be caused by rapid mechanical failure of energetic material samples. To solve data acquisition issues during the initial testing attempts with the modified equipment, the Type‐12 tooling is further adapted by installing a high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) bushing through which the striker bar is inserted. A series of sensitivity tests are then conducted using RDX to determine if this alteration affected the normal operation of the instrument. It is found that this modification to the apparatus creates a 46 % reduction in the standard deviation of H 50 results in comparison to the standard tooling.