Statistical Theory of Initiation of Explosives by Impact

TL;DR

This paper develops a statistical and theoretical model explaining the probabilistic initiation of explosives by impact, emphasizing hot spot formation due to activated molecules rather than heating, validated with RDX data.

Contribution

It introduces a new two-states model linking impact energy to hot spot formation, advancing understanding of impact initiation mechanisms.

Findings

Hot spot formation is proportional to impact energy, not dropped weight.

The model accurately predicts impact initiation probability for RDX.

Activated molecules play a key role in explosive initiation.

Abstract

When a given weight dropped onto an explosive charge, explosion or not is probabilistic for certain impact energy and the frequency of explosion is always increase with increasing impact energy. Based on experimental results and recently theoretical work, we propose that the hot spot formation is attributed to the activated molecules decomposition and the number of molecules initiation is proportional to the impact energy but not the dropped weight heating as the previous hot spot theory. A theoretical model based on two states model has been put forward for this phenomena. It is shown that the activated molecules to form a hot spot determine the probabilistic nature of initiation by impact. It is shown a good agreement tested with Hexogen (RDX) experimental impact data.