Mechanical Characterization of Energetic Materials

Through this research effort, DSR is developing test equipment that can be used by the Air Force to investigate inert and live explosive material properties through a variety of different pressure and temperature environments. Strain-rate levels are adjustable and will vary between 10-5-10-2 s-1 depending upon the stiffness and strength of the test material. 25.4-mm-diameter specimens with length-to-diameter ratios of at least 2 can be tested at high-confining pressures and over a wide-range of temperature extremes. In Phase I, mechanical, hydraulic, and temperature application designs were developed for the test device with the capability to apply confining pressures up to 200 MPa and differential loads of up to 745KN to right-circular cylinder test specimens. DSR has designed a highly accurate instrumentation sensor configuration that will allow for precise specimen deflection and load measurements as well as provide the necessary servo-loop feedback to the test controls to obtain high-fidelity behavior of the test specimen. In Phase II, the mechanical, hydraulic, and instrumentation designs conceptually developed in the Phase I effort will be used to build the device and validate its capabilities (using an inert simulant material) under a variety of different conditions.