Thin-Film Sensor Suite for Measuring Detonation Properties

The dynamics during the early stages of detonation of energetic materials determine the development path of the explosion. These dynamics are extremely difficult to measure, however, since the entire event may last of order a microsecond and the temperature and pressure conditions are characteristic of extreme shock. Fast, high-resolution diagnostic tools are needed to characterize these early stages to better understand how detonations progress for specific materials. This is particularly important for developing or screening new munitions with improved energetic performance and for developing safer explosives with reduced susceptibility to sympathetic detonation or fast cook-off. Creare proposes to develop a thin-film detonation wave sensor that measures fast temperature rise and pressure rise at discrete points and that continuously measures the position and velocity of the detonation wave along the wave propagation path. In Phase I, we will develop a preliminary design for the sensor, predict its performance, and develop a conceptual approach for manufacturing it. In the Option Phase and Phase II, we will finalize the sensor design, build prototypes, and demonstrate their functionality for characterizing the early stages of detonation.