The transition to insensitive munitions (IM)

The "Transition to IM" covers all the efforts necessary to decrease the ris ks exhibited by munitions in accidental and hostile environments. Mastering the design of Insensitive Munitions (IM), or MURAT in French, has only bee n possible after many years of research, mainly dealing with the reaction m echanisms of energetic materials to the stimuli induced by the accidental t hreats. After recounting the origins of the transition to IM, the main phys ical behaviours driving the unexpected ways of reaction are described, as w ell as the necessary tools for their prediction and computation. This synth esis of the available means for the design of IM is followed by a descripti on of the state of art in the field of standardization of tests tests and c riteria.