Detonation Reaction Characteristics and Shock Initiation Properties of RDX-Based Booster Explosives by Small-Scale Tests

Booster explosives play an important role in the energy amplification of ammunition. This paper developed small-scale tests with less than 20 g of explosive cost to understand the booster’s detonation characteristics and shock-to-detonation behavior. The cylinder test was modified to 10 mm in diameter and combined with interface particle velocity measurements, thereby allowing the detonation velocity, detonation reaction time, Chapman-Jouguet pressure, and metal acceleration ability to be obtained synchronously from one test. A small-scale shock initiation test was also proposed, which is equipped with a portable-reusable uniform magnetic-field generator based on permanent magnets and a plane wave generator-driven flyer for adjustable shock input. By embedding U-shaped electromagnetic gauges in 20 mm diameter explosive slices of different thicknesses, the growth of explosive particle velocity was measured. A typical booster, JH-14, composed of 96.5% RDX, was investigated. The tests show good repeatability and reliable results, and the ignition and growth reaction model and Pop-Plot were obtained accordingly. It was also found that a low content of binder can effectively affect the detonation growth behavior of explosives, compared to another formulation, 8701, composed of 95% RDX. These findings will contribute to the understanding of booster characteristics and the development of small-scale detonation tests.