Corner turning of detonation waves in an HMX-based paste explosive

Detonation wave profiles have been determined for RX-08-HD (74% HMX paste) loaded in 3 mm square troughs after turning both acute 90 degrees bends and bends with a 1.5 mm inner radius turn and a 4.5 mm outer radius. The explo sive troughs were confined with either lucite or copper. We show that the s hape of the detonation wavefront can be explained in terms of a Huygens' co nstruction from the leading point to the outer radius. Turbulent behavior o ccurs between the leading point and the inner edge. The turbulence appears enhanced for the curved samples with copper confinement. The distance the d etonation wave has to travel past the turn in order to regain its original symmetry was found to be governed by an exponential time constant of 0.6 mu s. Analysis suggests that the leading point alone stays at the straight-ah ead detonation velocity throughout the turn.