Fuel-Air Explosive Technologies from Dual-Use Materials

ABSTRACT: Our concept is designed to create and disperse a vapor cloud from a low-vapor-pressure fuel at near stoichimetric conditions and then detonate or at least deflagrate the cloud with a single event system. Our concept relies upon rapid shock compression of the fuel followed by flash vaporization. Just prior to impact, an annular ring of HE surrounding the part of the tank is initiated. The implosion super-compresses the fuel into the supercritical regime in ~ 100 & #61549;s. Concurrently, a liquid or solid phase oxidizer liberates atomic or monatomic oxygen under the shock loading. The high-pressure, partially oxidizer mixture exits through specially designed holes (nozzles) in a"piccolo"tube that surrounds the tank. The superheated mixture undergoes a thermodynamic process known as flash vaporization, which reduces or eliminates the time required to vaporize the liquid fuel. The residual fireball from the HE and turbulent mixing of vapor and any liquid droplets quickly ignites/detonates the fuel/oxidizer mixture. The work plan consists of tasks to: define metrics and diagnostics for evaluating the performance; fabrication and testing of baseline test articles for evaluating the effectiveness of our concept; and modeling and simulations to define candidate concepts, develop designs, and assist in analysis of experimental results. BENEFIT: The feasibility study will provide engineering data and fundamental knowledge that has implications for numerous DoD applications where advanced, multi-purpose energetic materials can provide enhanced blast and lethality. The approach represents a novel concept that could provide alternative solutions for pulse detonation engines.