Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Early time spectroscopic measurements during high-explosive detonation breakout into air

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Shock Waves Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Explosive breakout of PBX-9407 into air is examined using time-resolved optical spectroscopy over a period of several microseconds. Emission is monitored over the 250–700 nm range, and several atomic and molecular species are observed including atomic calcium, and copper, as well as OH and CN. Several lines and bands remain unidentified. Fits to Ca and OH spectra suggest that early time temperatures exceed 13,000 K behind the air shock and that temperature decay is fairly rapid over the first \(10\,\upmu \mathrm{s}\). Considering the proposed shock structure of the blast wave, it is likely that these temperatures are confined to a narrow region behind the blast wave, but nevertheless generate emission signatures that dominate the spectra at early times.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kiselev, Y.N., Khristoforov, B.D.: Explosive high-power continuous spectrum light source. Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva 10, 116–119 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Taylor, W.H., Kane, J.W.: Radiant properties of strong shock waves in argon. Appl. Opt. 6, 1493–1496 (1967)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Koch, J.D., Piecuch, S., Lightstoner, J.M., Carney, J.R., Hooper, J.: Time-resolved measurements of near infrared emission spectra from explosions: pure pentaerythritol tetranitrate and its mixtures containing silver and aluminum particles. J. Appl. Phys. 108, 036101 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Glumac, N., Krier, H., Bazyn, T., Eyer, R.: Temperature measurements of aluminum particles burning in carbon dioxide. Combust. Sci. Technol. 177, 485–501 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Schlöffel, G., Eichhorn, A., Albers, H., Mundt, C., Seiler, F., Zhang, F.: The effect of a shock wave on the ignition behavior of aluminum particles in a shock tube. Combust. Flame 157, 446–454 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Keck, J.C., Camm, J.C., Kivel, B.: Radiation from hot air part II. Shock tube study of absolute intensities. Ann. Phys. 7, 1–38 (1959)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Carroll, P.K., Collins, C.C., Murnaghan, J.T.: Rotational studies of the Gaydon-Herman (green) bands of N\(_2\). J. Phys. B Atomic Mol. Opt. Phys. 5, 1634–1654 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Davidson, G., O’Neil, R.: Optical radiation from nitrogen and air at high pressure excited by energetic electrons. J. Chem. Phys. 41, 3946–3955 (1964)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Aho, K., Berg, L.E., Hallsten, U., Lindblom, P., Solin, O.: Observation of dominant emission of the Gaydon-Herman green system in dense nitrogen excited by energetic ions. J. Phys. B Atomic Mol. Opt. Phys. 27, L525 doi:10.1088/0953-4075/27/16/004

  10. James, C.G., Sugden, T.M.: A new identification of the flame spectra of the alkaline-earth metals. Nature 175, 333–334 (1955)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Weeks, S.J., Haraguchi, H., Winefordner, J.D.: Laser-excited molecular fluorescence of CaOH in an air-acetylene flame. J. Quant. Spectro. Radiat. Transf. 19, 633–640 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bernath, P.F., Brazier, C.R.: Spectroscopy of CaOH. Ap. J. 288, 373–376 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Xu, H., Glumac, N.G., Suslick, K.S.: Temperature inhomogeneity during multibubble sonoluminescence. Angewandte Chemie 48, 1–5 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Luque, J., Crosley, D.R.: LIFBASE: database and spectral program (version 1.5). SRI International Report MP 99–009 (1999)

  15. Brode, H.L.: Blast wave from a spherical charge. Phys. Fluids 2, 217 (1959)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. Rozhdestvenskii, V.B., Khristoforov, B.D., Yur’ev, V.L.: Effect of product composition on the radiation characteristics of explosion of an explosive in air. Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva 25(5), 145–148 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Reif, I., Fassel, V.A., Kniseley, R.N.: Spectroscopic flame temperature measurements and their physical significance—I. Theoretical concepts—a critical review. Spectrochimica Acta Part B Atomic Spectrosc. 28, 105–115 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Reif, I., Fassel, V.A., Kniseley, R.N.: Spectroscopic flame temperature measurements and their physical significance—II. Spectrochimica Acta Part B Atomic Spectrosc. 29, 79–84 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Grabner, L., Hastie, J.W.: Flame boundary layer effects in line-of-sight optical measurements. Combust. Flame 44, 15–22 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. McNesby, K.L., Homan, B.E., Ritter, J.J., Quine, Z., Ehlers, R.Z., McAndrew, B.A.: Afterburn ignition delay and shock augmentation in fuel rich solid explosives. Propellants Pyrotech. Explos. 35, 57–65 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Coverdill, D.: Explosive Initiation of Tungsten Based Reactive Materials in Air, M.S. Thesis. University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign (2010)

  22. Carney, J.R., Firestone, J.M., Lee, R.J.: Fuel-rich explosive energy release: oxidizer concentration dependence. Propellants Explos. Pyrotech. 34, 331–339 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Glumac, N., Mott Puker, J., Krier, H., Lynch, P.T.: Optical Spectroscopy of Fireballs from Metallized Reactive Materials. In: 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting. Orlando, Florida, AIAA-2010-0695 (January 2010)

  24. Lewis, W.K., Rumchik, C.G.: Measurement of apparent temperature in post-detonation fireballs using atomic emission spectroscopy. J. Appl. Phys. 105, 056104 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Johnson, S.: AFRL Eglin. Private communication

  26. Carney, J. R.: NSWC Indian Head. Private communication

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency under contract HDTRA1-10-1-0003. The program manager is Dr. Suhithi Peiris. Thanks to Dr. Stephanie Johnson at AFRL Eglin for assistance in identification of the green and red emission bands, to Drs. William Lewis and Joel Carney for helpful discussions on emission spectra, and to Drs. Scott Stewart, Blaine Asay, Doug Tasker, and Joe Foster for insightful information on detonation breakout.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Science and Engineering Department, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, USA

    N. Glumac

Authors
  1. N. Glumac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Glumac.

Additional information

Communicated by F. Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Glumac, N. Early time spectroscopic measurements during high-explosive detonation breakout into air. Shock Waves 23, 131–138 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-012-0421-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-012-0421-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation