Study of continuous velocity probe method for the determination of the detonation pressure of commercial explosives

A novel velocity probe, which permits recording the continuous velocities of detonations and shock waves, has been developed based on the transition of operation principle from ionization to pressure-conduction. Using the new probe and the impedance matching method, a series of measuring devices were set up to obtain the shock wave velocities in different inert materials, i.e., water, Plexiglas and paraffin wax. Two test types of powder ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), exposed on the ground and tamped in the blast hole, were performed, from which we calculated their detonation pressures, with a density of approximately 0.86 g·cm−3, ranged from 3.52 GPa to 3.65 GPa, and the adiabatic exponents from 2.24 to 2.30. The results show that the present velocity probe-based method can be used to determine the detonation pressure of commercial explosives conveniently and reliably, which is an important supplement for the testing techniques of explosive performance.