Ya. Gostintsev et La. Sukhanov, Large-scale failures of liquid-propellant rockets. TNT equivalences and intensities of explosions, CHEM PHYS R, 18(3), 1999, pp. 613-625
Formation of charges of cryogenic heterogeneous explosive (CHE) after a bre
ak of partition (diaphragm) between the tanks containing cryogenic liquid p
ropellant components - fuel (liquid hydrogen or kerosine) and oxidizer (liq
uid oxygen) is considered. A model of component mixing and CHE formation is
suggested. The model is based on the theory of hydrodynamic instability of
the contact surface between liquids. The structure, composition, TNT equiv
alency, and the explosion yield of CHE charges in the case when a combined
booster rocket impinges a rigid surface (ground, launching construction, or
water). Examples of numerical calculations of TNT equivalencies and explos
ion yield for hypothetical accidental explosions of some booster rockets an
d their individual blocks are given.