A High Temporal Resolution In-material Gauge for the Measurement of Non-reactive Shocks and Detonation Waves in Explosives.

A FEASIBILITY STUDY IS PROPOSED FOR AN ENCAPSULATED, HIGH TEMPORAL RESOLUTION, BROAD RANGE PIEZOELECTRIC POLYMER STRESS GAUGE TO MEASURE SHOCK-TO-DETONATION TRANSITIONS IN EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANTS. THESE MEASUREMENTS ARE KEY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE "GROWTH TO DETONATION" MODELS WHICH ARE A NECESSARY ELEMENT IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE VULNERABILITY AND/OR DEVELOPMENT OF TACTICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THEATER MISSILES AND AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS. THE GAUGE WILL USE THE ISL PVDF SENSOR AS ITS BASIC ELEMENT. THE STUDY WILL EXAMINE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH CANDIDATE ENCAPSULATION MATERIALS AND OF PVDF ITSELF AT HIGH STRESS. THE CONFIGURATION OF THE ACTIVE ELEMENT AND ELECTRODE LEADS WILL BE OPTIMIZED AND ENCAPSULATION MATERIALS AND FABRICATION TECHNIQUES WILL BE DEFINED THAT ENSURE EFFECTIVE OPERATION AND YET MAXIMIZE THE TEMPORAL RESOLUTION OF THE GAUGE PACKAGE. THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ENCAPSULATED GAUGE DESIGN WILL BE DEMONSTRATED AT HIGH PRESSURES IN BOTH INERT AND REACTIVE MATERIALS. THIS GAUGE IS UNIQUE IN ITS ABILTY TO MEASURE BOTH THE LOW AMPLITUDE SHOCK AND THE DETONATION IN A SHOCK-TO-DETONATION PROCESS AND IN ITS ABILITY TO RELEASE THE CHAPMAN JOUGET CONDITIONS IN MANY EXPLOSIVES.