Solid Propellant Shock to Detonation Modeling and Formulation

Determining the hazard classification of new propellant formulations is important for transportation safety and storage concerns. To avoid costly grain redesign and additional testing, a model that adequately predicts the shock sensitivity, including the outcome of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Large Scale Gap Test, of modern solid propellants is required. The goals of this proposal are to develop and validate computational tools that predict the shock sensitivity of solid propellant formulations. In particular, we plan to (i) use our packing code, Rocpack, to generate morphologies of interest for shock sensitivity assessments, (ii) modify our CFD code to include appropriate chemistry models, (iii) modify our CFD code to propagate shocks of various strengths through the pack to predict the onset of detonation. In Phase I, we made key steps toward these objectives. We also plan to carry out an experimental program to validate the numerical solvers. BENEFIT: Determining the hazard classification of new propellant and explosive formulations is important for transportation, safety, and storage concerns. To avoid costly grain redesign and additional testing, a model that adequately predicts the shock sensitivity, including the outcome of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Large Scale Gap Test, of modern solid propellants is required. This information will be of great value to solid rocket manufacturers, to large gun manufacturers, and their customers in the U.S. Department of Defense