Material study on the fragmentation of high explosive, hemispherical shells: Diagnostics techniques and results

This study explores the complex multi-physics phenomena present in high explosive environments, requiring the simultaneous solution of chemical kinetics and Navier-Stokes equations to accurately simulate the details of an explosive event. To validate computational models, simpler experiments are necessary. In this case, hemispherical high explosive shells were chosen as they offer a more manageable, less-dimensional problem for computational testing. The research involved a series of diagnostic techniques applied to 100g and 500g hemispherical explosive shells, focusing on measuring key parameters such as temperature and pressure during fireball expansion. These measurements provided critical insights into the dynamics of explosive events and helped refine the simulations. The study further evaluated the diagnostic techniques in different conditions to test their reliability and precision in characterizing the fireball's behavior. Additionally, metallic shells weighing 50g and 250g were incorporated into the experiments to investigate how fragments influenced the temperature, flow, and overall expansion of the fireball. The metallic fragments were key to understanding fragment distribution patterns and how they interact with the explosive environment. High-speed videography, X-ray burst imaging three-color pyrometry, time-resolved spectroscopy, and ballistic gel recovery are just several techniques that were tested in this test series.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theoretical & Applied Mechans

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Bielawski, Matthew G

Contributors dc:contributor

• Glumac, Nick G

• High-speed Imaging
• Spectral Analysis
• Material Failure
• Detonation Physics
• Explosive Fragmentation Modeling
• Energy Deposition
• Blast Wave Propagation
• High Explosives
• Fragmentation
• Hemispherical Shells
• Explosive Materials
• Diagnostics Techniques
• Experimental Methods
• Spectroscopy
• Optical Measurements
• Shock Wave Analysis
• Explosive Testing
• Fragment Dynamics
• Material Characterization
• Ballistic Analysis

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Matthew Bielawski

Language dc:language

eng, en

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127271

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127271