Pulsed power driven cylindrical wire array explosions in different media

Abstract

Cylindrical copper wire array explosions were carried out in de-ionized water, sodium polytungstate solution, nitromethane, and polyester in order to obtain high energy density conditions in the vicinity of implosion using the generated converging shock waves. The utilization of different materials in which the array is immersed can contribute to this goal with higher density resulting in higher shock velocities and possible combustion. The generated shock waves were captured by a framing and a streak camera and shock velocities were calculated and compared. Pressure behind the shock front was calculated using known hydrodynamic relations (for water, polytungstate, and polyester) and compared to two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations coupled with equations of state (for water and polyester). It was demonstrated that despite lower shock wave velocity in polytungstate solution than water, the pressures generated are similar in both materials. In polyester, both shock velocities and generated pressures are 2-4 times higher than in water. Furthermore, it was shown that it is possible to carry out these explosions in a solid which has several advantages compared to liquids, such as not relying on waterproof systems and easier transportation.