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At least 73 records · Page 4

Exploding Bridgewire (EBW) Detonators: An Example of Synergistic Multiphysics

Exploding bridgewire (EBW) detonators are highly temporally reproducible explosive devices that require the rapid discharge of a high‐voltage capacitance to operate and so are immune to most of the accidental hazards associated with traditional electric detonators. They have been demonstrated to be safe enough for use in high‐consequence explosive applications. Despite continued use for over 82 years, understanding the exact mechanism of operation has remained elusive. Various researchers have ascribed either deflagration‐to‐detonation (DDT) or shock‐to‐detonation (SDT) phenomena observed in other explosive events to explain the science behind the successful engineering; however, a rigorous justification has been absent. Previously, we have demonstrated a complex interaction in EBW detonators between large electrical currents, non‐equilibrium thermodynamic material states, plasma physics, powder compaction phenomena, shock physics, photochemistry, and rapid conventional explosive chemical reaction processes. Specifically, we have made progress in understanding the complex multiphysics that operates in these detonators and demonstrating that it is a serendipitous synergy between UV light emitted from the arc formed as the bridge is electrically exploded and the accompanying short‐duration shock transmitted into the explosive powder bed that allows these devices to function at practical capacitor sizes and charge voltages. This insight not only places the topic on a firmer scientific footing but potentially enables new approaches to safe detonator design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fate of multiparticle resonances: From Q-balls to 3 He droplets

We study a system of N nonrelativistic particles which form a near-threshold resonance. Assuming no subset of these particles can form a bound state, the resonance can only decay through an “explosion” into N particles. We find that the decay width of the resonance scales as E Δ –5/2 in the limit when the energy E of the resonance goes to zero, where Δ is the ground-state energy of a system of N particles in a spherical harmonic trap with unit frequency. Here, the formula remains valid when some pairs of final particles have zero-energy s-wave resonance, but the Efimov effect is not present. In the limit of large N, we show that the final particles follow a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution if they are bosons and a semicirclelike law if they are fermions. We expect our general result to be applicable to various systems that exist in nature. In particular, we argue that metastable 3 He droplets exist with the lifetime varying over many orders of magnitude ranging from a fraction of a nanosecond to values greatly exceeding the age of the Universe.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

A novel ignition model for low velocity impact of heterogeneous explosives based on interacting hot spots

While numerous studies have focused on the ignition of explosives occurring in high velocity impact and the associated shock-to-detonation transition, there has been growing interest in developing computational models focused on low-velocity impact regimes. A predictive low-velocity impact ignition model will be important for analyzing high explosive safety and potential accident scenarios. This work introduces a novel ignition model based on the concept of thermally interacting hot spots to simulate low velocity impacted heterogeneous explosives where observed ignition times are on the order of milliseconds. The model asserts that relevant hot spots are micron-sized, the typical separation between neighboring hot spots is on the order of a hundred microns, and that neighbors interact thermally through heat conduction across the interstitial region between them. To achieve tractable numerical solutions, hot spots are assumed to form a periodic array as opposed to the highly irregular positioning in an actual explosive. This idealization allows a single two hotspot system to characterize the ignition process. Consequently, the model is referred to as the two hot spot Frank-Kamenetskii ignition model. In the present study, hot spots are modeled as constant heat sources terms, but this can be extended to include grain-scale phenomena like frictional heating of micron-sized growing cracks that are confined under high pressure. Because the micron-sized features are below the scale that can be efficiently resolved at a systems level, an efficient subscale scheme based on the Method of Weighted Residuals (MWR) is used to efficiently solve the equations. In conclusion, we carry out numerical examples and analytic predictions illustrating the accuracy and the functioning of the model.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Coupling AFEX and steam-exploded sugarcane residue pellets with a room temperature CIIII-activation step lowered enzyme dosage requirements for sugar conversion

In this study, the potential integration of steam explosion (StEx) and ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) with existing sugar/ethanol mills to form decentralized pre-processing depots was explored. Both StEx and AFEX pretreatment facilitated the production of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and cane leaf matter (CLM) pellets with significantly higher bulk density, mechanical durability, and hydrophobicity relative to their untreated biomass pellet controls. However, ethanol production from standalone StEx and AFEX-treated SCB and CLM pellets required enzyme dosages greater than 21 mg/g glucan to achieve enzymatic hydrolysis sugar yields of 75% and ethanol titres greater than 40 g.L -1 . Coupling AFEX-treated SCB or CLM pellets with a room temperature CIII I -activation step using liquid ammonia lowered enzyme dosage requirements by more than 50% without affecting ethanol titers and production yields (greater than300 L per Mg residual dry matter raw dry biomass (RDM)). In contrast, treating StEx-treated pellets with CIIII-activation using liquid ammonia did not result in similar enzyme dosage reductions, due to pseudo-lignin formation, leading to enzyme deactivation and/or lignin blockage that retarded enzymatic hydrolysis at low enzyme dosages. A gross energy conversion assessment revealed that low enzyme dosage (3-4 mg enzyme/g RDM) ethanol and electricity co-production from AFEX and CIII I -activated SCB and CLM can recover up to 73% of the energy in the untreated biomass, compared to 54% recovered by StEx and CIII I -activation. The results from this work suggest that StEx or AFEX based pre-processing depots can produce dense and mechanically durable biomass pellets. The AFEX-treated pellets can be easily upgraded using a room temperature CIII I -activation step at the biorefinery to significantly reduce bioconversion enzymes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Sensitivity of pore collapse heating to the melting temperature and shear viscosity of HMX

A multiscale modeling strategy is used to quantify factors governing the temperature rise in hot spots formed by pore collapse from supported and unsupported shock waves in the high explosive HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine). Two physical aspects are examined in detail, namely the melting temperature and liquid shear viscosity. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of phase coexistence are used to predict the pressure-dependent melting temperature up to 5 GPa. Equilibrium simulations and the Green–Kubo formalism are used to obtain the temperature- and pressure-dependent liquid shear viscosity. Starting from a simplified continuum-based grain-scale model of HMX, in this study we systematically increase the complexity of treatments for the solid–liquid phase transition and liquid shear viscosity in simulations of pore collapse. Using a realistic pressure-dependent melting temperature completely suppresses melting for supported shocks, which is otherwise predicted when treating it as a constant determined at atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, melt pools form around collapsed pores when the pressure (and melting temperature) are reduced during the release stage of unsupported shocks. Capturing the pressure dependence of the shear viscosity increases the peak temperature of melt pools by hundreds of Kelvin through viscous work. The complicated interplay of the solid-phase plastic work, solid–liquid phase transition, and liquid-phase viscous work identified here motivate taking a systematic approach to building increasingly complex grain-scale models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dust Formation and Destruction in Core Collapse Supernovae Explosions [Dissertation]

Dust is a crucial component of the Interstellar Medium (ISM) and an important driver in many astrophysical processes. Dust formed from evolved stars increases the metallicity of the ISM, enriching it with heavier elements. Dust makes up the source material of collapsing clouds in the ISM leading to stellar and galactic formation. The stabilization of these systems are aided by dust through absorption and scattering of excess energy. As stellar systems evolve and undergo supernova and mass loss events, enriched dust is produced, further enhancing the metallicity of the ISM. However, despite the importance of dust, the processes that produce dust are not well understood. Core-Collapse Supernovae are one source of dust. Dying massive stars explode, sending their constituent material into the Interstellar Medium, which as the ejecta expands and cools, material condenses and nucleates forming dust grains. I investigate the formation, survivability, and properties of dust. In Chapter 2, dust grain nucleation in CCSNe is discussed. A revised formulation of Kinetic Nucleation Theory (KNT) is used to track the nucleation and growth of dust grains in the ejecta. The affects of the progenitor system on the amount and type of dust is explored, showing a strong dependence on explosion energy. I discuss the code and methods used to model dust nucleation and destruction in Chapter 3. The sputtering and erosion of dust grains in CCSNe shocks are explored in Chapter 4. The erosion and survival of this nucleated dust is modeled through thermal and non-thermal sputtering by the surrounding gas and shocks. The optical properties and scattering of light by surviving dust grains is modeled by Mie scattering in Chapter 5. A discussion of observations of dust in variable star systems and supernovae is outlined in Chapter 6.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Bosenovae with quadratically-coupled scalars in quantum sensing experiments

Abstract Ultralight dark matter (ULDM) particles of massm ϕ ≲ 1 eV can form boson stars in DM halos. Collapse of boson stars leads to explosive bosenova emission of copious relativistic ULDM particles. In this work, we analyze the sensitivity of terrestrial and space-based experiments to detect such relativistic scalar ULDM particles interacting through quadratic couplings with Standard Model constituents, including electrons, photons, and gluons. We highlight key differences with searches for linear ULDM couplings. Screening of ULDM with quadratic couplings near the surface of the Earth can significantly impact observations in terrestrial experiments, motivating future space-based experiments. We demonstrate excellent ULDM discovery prospects, especially for quantum sensors, which can probe quadratic couplings orders below existing constraints by detecting bosenova events in the ULDM mass range 10 −23 eV ≲m ϕ ≲ 10 −5 eV. We also report updated constraints on quadratic couplings of ULDM in case it comprises cold DM.

Physics↗

Electrode roughness dependent electrodeposition of sodium at the nanoscale

Na metal is an attractive anode material for rechargeable Na ion batteries, however, the dendritic growth of Na can cause serious safety issues. Along with modifications of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), engineering the electrode has been reported to be effective in suppressing Na dendritic growth, likely by reducing localized current density accumulation. However, fundamental understanding of Na growth at the nanoscale is still limited. Here, we report an in-situ study of Na electrodeposition in electrochemical liquid cells with the electrodes in different surface roughness, e.g., flat or sharp curvature. Real time observation using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the Na electrodeposition with remarkable details. Relatively large Na grains (in the micrometer scale) are achieved on the flat electrode surface. The local SEI thickness variations impact the growth rate, thus the morphology of individual grains. In contrast, small Na grains (in tens of nanometers) grow explosively on the electrode at the point with sharp curvature. The newly formed Na grains preferentially deposit at the base of existing grains close to the electrode. Further studies using continuum-based computational modeling suggest that the growth mode of an alkali metal (e.g. Na) is strongly influenced by the transport properties of SEI. Our direct observation of Na deposition in combination with the theoretical modeling provides insights for comprehensive understanding of electrode roughness and SEI effects on Na electrochemical deposition.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Shock Initiation Microscopy with High Time and Space Resolution

In this paper, we describe studies of shock initiation and shock-to-detonation transitions in energetic materials using a tabletop shock compression microscope with nanosecond time resolution and micrometer spatial resolution. Planar input shocks with durations of 4–20 ns are produced using 0–4.5 km/s laser-launched flyer plates. Emphasis is on measurements of temperature, velocities, pressure, and microstructure using photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV), optical pyrometry and high-speed videography. Techniques are discussed for fabricating disposable shock target arrays of tiny plastic-bonded explosives (PBX), liquid and powder explosives, and single-crystal explosives for high-throughput studies. Optical temperature measurements of shocked triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) are discussed. Since TATB is yellow, we developed methods to correct for the blue absorption to obtain more accurate temperatures. Hot spots in shocked polymer-encased HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) crystals are observed in real-time, showing a hot spot produced in a collapsing void that ignites a deflagration. Despite the small dimensions of our explosive charges (typically 1 mm diameter and 250 μm length), we produced reproducible detonation states in solid and liquid explosives using short-duration shocks near the von Neumann spike (VNS) pressure. We show the VNS pressure is associated with a transition to high-efficiency gas production from the explosives. In studies of NM, prior to detonation, we see reaction originating at hot spots which coalesce to form a superdetonation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DNS of ignition and flame stabilization in a simplified gas turbine premixer

With the increasing need for fuel flexibility, mitigation of auto-ignition (AI) inside gas turbine (GT) premixers becomes crucial. They must be designed to yield a sufficiently homogeneous fuel-air mixture to achieve low emissions while at the same time avoiding the occurrence of AI and subsequent flame stabilization. This challenge requires a detailed understanding of turbulent mixing and chemistry interactions. In the present work, a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of an array of jets in crossflow (JICF), representative of an industrial GT premixer, is reported to shed light on these complex phenomena. It is found that AI kernels form in the aft part of the premixer and coalesce into a flame front that then propagates upstream, mainly through the boundary layer, and successively engulfs the jets. This, therefore, suggests a significant role of the jet array pattern on the flame stabilization. It is noted that AI kernels continue to form independently during the whole time of the simulation. To clarify the contribution of AI and diffusion in the ignition kernels and the main flame, chemical explosive mode analysis (CEMA) is employed jointly with a kernel tracking algorithm. It is found that during the initial formation of the flame, many ignition kernels form in mixtures with low scalar dissipation rate and large contribution from AI mode. As they quickly grow, they merge into a single flame front that becomes increasingly more diffusion-assisted over time, balancing the AI mode. Turbulence is shown to have a significant enhancing effect in lean premixed flames, but further analysis is required to fully characterize it. These findings are relevant for the industrial premixer studied, and also for novel micromix concepts that may be used in the next generation of GT combustion systems.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Titanium and Iron in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

Mixing above the proto-neutron star is believed to play an important role in the supernova engine, and this mixing results in a supernova explosion with asymmetries. Elements produced in the innermost ejecta, e.g., 56 Ni and 44 Ti, provide a clean probe of this engine. The production of 44Ti is particularly sensitive to the exact production pathway and, by understanding the available pathways, we can use 44 Ti to probe the supernova engine. Using thermodynamic trajectories from a three-dimensional supernova explosion model, we review the production of these elements and the structures expected to form under the "convective-engine" paradigm behind supernovae. Overall, we compare our results to recent X-ray and γ-ray observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Intergranular Hotspots: A Molecular Dynamics Study on the Influence of Compressive and Shear Work

Numerous crystal- and microstructural-level mechanisms are at play in the formation of hotspots, which are known to govern high explosives initiation behavior. Most of these mechanisms, including pore collapse, interfacial friction, and shear banding, involve both compressive and shear work done within the material and have thus far remained difficult to separate. Here, we assess hotspots formed at shocked crystal–crystal interfaces using quasi-1D molecular dynamics simulations that isolate effects due to compression and shear. Two high explosive materials are considered (TATB and PETN) that exhibit distinctly different levels of molecular conformational flexibility and crystal packing anisotropy. Temperature and intramolecular strain energy localization in the hotspot are assessed through parametric variation of the crystal orientation and two velocity components that respectively modulate compression and shear work. The resulting hotspots are found to be highly localized to a region within 5–20 nm of the crystal–crystal interface. Compressive work plays a considerably larger role in localizing temperature and intramolecular strain energy for both materials and all crystal orientations considered. Shear induces a moderate increase in energy localization relative to unsheared cases only for relatively weak compressive shock pressures of approximately 10 GPa. These results help isolate and rank the relative importance of hotspot generation mechanisms and are anticipated to guide the treatment of crystal–crystal interfaces in coarse-grained models of polycrystalline high-explosive materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Numerical Modeling of Air-Blast Suppression as a Function of Explosive-Charge Burial Depth

As a chemical explosion is buried, the mechanism for acoustic wave generation transitions from fully gas-generated at the surface to completely spall-induced at full containment depth. The fully gas-generated and completely spall-induced signals in the acoustic waveform are well described; however, the transition between these two end-members eludes numerical modeling because of the complex phenomena that are involved. The phenomena of crater formation and explosive cloud evolution are simulated using an Eulerian hydrocode that incorporates geomaterials with strength and porosity. Having accurately modeled these phenomena, we can confidently predict the propagation and relative strength of the gas-generated and spall-induced pulses in the recorded acoustic waveform. The numerical predictions agree with observations from the historical Stagecoach experiment as well as modern recordings from the Source Physics Experiment. In particular, the peak pressure p generated by an explosion is initially due to the gas-generated mechanism and decays with scaled depth of burial d s (depth d scaled by the cube-root of explosive yield w 1/3 ) as exp(-d s ) but then transitions near a scaled depth of 6 m/ton 1/3 to the spall-generated mechanism in which the decay is d$_{s}^{-7/4}$. This decay form is related to the strong ground-motion attenuation relationship that affects spall strength. So these results can improve seismoacoustic inverse models for the explosive source that need to account for the gas-generated and spall-induced signals and their effect on peak pressures and other acoustic signal features.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

SN 2021adxl: A luminous nearby interacting supernova in an extremely low-metallicity environment

SN 2021adxl is a slowly evolving, luminous, Type IIn supernova with asymmetric emission line profiles, similar to the well-studied SN 2010jl. We present extensive optical, near-ultraviolet, and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy covering ∼1.5 years post discovery. SN 2021adxl occurred in an unusual environment, atop a vigorously star-forming region that is offset from its host galaxy core. The appearance of Ly α and O II , as well as the compact core, would classify the host of SN 2021adxl as a “Blueberry” galaxy, analogous to higher redshift, low-metallicity, star-forming dwarf “Green Pea” galaxies. Using several abundance indicators, we find a metallicity of the explosion environment of only ∼0.1 Z ⊙ , the lowest reported metallicity for a Type IIn SN environment. SN 2021adxl reaches a peak magnitude of M r ≈ −20.2 mag and since discovery, SN 2021adxl has faded by only ∼4 magnitudes in the r band with a cumulative radiated energy of ∼1.5 × 10 50 erg over 18 months. SN 2021adxl shows strong signs of interaction with a complex circumstellar medium, seen by the detection of X-rays, revealed by the detection of coronal emission lines, and through multi-component hydrogen and helium profiles. In order to further understand this interaction, we model the H α profile using a Monte Carlo electron scattering code. The blueshifted high-velocity component is consistent with emission from a radially thin spherical shell resulting in the broad emission components due to electron scattering. Using the velocity evolution of this emitting shell, we find that the SN ejecta collide with circumstellar material of at least ∼5 M ⊙ assuming a steady-state mass-loss rate of ∼4 − 6 × 10 −3 M ⊙ yr −1 for the first ∼200 days of evolution. SN 2021adxl was last observed to be slowly declining at ∼0.01 mag d −1 , and if this trend continues, SN 2021adxl will remain observable after its current solar conjunction. Continuing the observations of SN 2021adxl may reveal signatures of dust formation or an infrared excess, similar to that seen for SN 2010jl.

Brennan, S. J. (ORCID:0000000313256235)↗

A comparison of explosively driven shock wave radius versus time scaling approaches

Abstract Explosively driven shock wave radius versus time profiles are frequently used to document energy release and relative explosive performance. Recently, two universal shock wave radius versus time profiles have been presented in the literature, which demonstrate the ability to represent explosively driven shock wave profiles for all explosive sources in any fluid environment. These two universal shock wave profiles are examined here relative to each other and relative to a commonly used nonlinear shock wave profile, which is fit to experimental data for individual explosive materials. The nonlinear profile, originally developed by Dewey, is examined here, and a universal non-dimensional form of the equation is proposed. The universal shock wave profiles are all found to be relatively similar, but with slight variations in a transition region of non-dimensional radii $$0.15\lesssim R^*\lesssim 2$$ 0.15 ≲ R ∗ ≲ 2 . The variations in this region result in different estimations of energy release or blast strength between the curve fits.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Notes on Davis EOS: Historical Perspective, Derivations & Physical Considerations

Davis reactant and product semi-empirical EOS have been introduced in a series of publications by W. C. Davis. These EOS are convenient to use in conjunction with reactive burn models to parameterize the thermodynamic response of quiescent high explosives (HE) and the mixture of HE decomposition products. There is a history of development of these EOS with different formulae and functional forms found in different papers. The goal of the present notes is to track that history, clarify the physical motivation behind various modifications to Davis EOS over time, and collect all the relevant formulae in one place.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Flammability and dispersion of tritium in confined release scenarios

Ignition of a flammable tritium-air mixture is the most probable means to produce the water form (T 2 O or HTO), which is more easily absorbed by living tissue and is hence ~10,000 times more hazardous to human health when uptake occurs compared to the gaseous form (T 2 or HT; per Mishima and Steele, 2002). Tritium-air mixtures with T 2 concentrations below 4 mol% are considered sub-flammable and will not readily convert to the more hazardous water form. It is therefore desirable from a safety perspective to understand the dispersion behavior of tritium under different release conditions, especially since tritium is often stored in quantities and pressures much lower than is typical for normal hydrogen. The formation of a flammable layer at the ceiling is a scenario of particular concern because the rate of dispersion to nonflammable conditions is slowest in this configuration, which maximizes the time window over which the flammable tritium may encounter an ignition source. This report describes the processes of buoyant rise and dispersion of tritium. Accumulation of flammable concentrations of tritium next to the ceiling is a common safety concern for hydrogen, but this situation can only occur if dispersion rates are slow with respect to rates of release and rise. Theory and simulations demonstrate that buoyancy does not cause regions with flammable concentrations to form within buildings from sources that have previously been mixed to sub-flammable concentrations. A simulated series of tritium release events with their associated dispersion behavior are reported herein; these simulations apply computational fluid dynamics to rooms with three different ceiling heights and a variety of tritium release rates. Safety related quantities from these simulations are reported, including the mass and volume of tritium occurring in a flammable mixture, the presence or absence of a flammable layer at the ceiling, and the time required for dispersion to nonflammable conditions after the end of the tritium release event. These safety metrics are influenced by the magnitude and rate of the tritium release with respect to the air volume in the room and also the momentum of the plume or jet with respect to the ceiling height. Several screening criteria are recommended to assess whether a specific tritium release scenario is likely to form a flammable layer at the ceiling. The methods and results in this modeling study have applicability to explosion safety analysis for other buoyant flammable gases, including the lighter isotopes of hydrogen.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Characterization and differentiation of aluminum powders used in improvised explosive devices. Part 2: Micromorphometric method refinement and preliminary statistical analysis

Abstract Aluminum (Al) powder is commonly encountered in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as a metallic fuel due to its availability and low cost. Although available commercially in powder form, amateur bomb‐makers also produce their own Al powder via simple methods found online. In order to provide investigative leads and forensic intelligence, it is important to evaluate not only the composition of homemade devices, but also to distinguish between the various forms of Al powder they contain. To achieve this goal, a method using automated microscopy in combination with statistical techniques has been demonstrated to have the potential to provide source discrimination and investigative leads in source attribution of Al powders in IEDs. The present research refined this method and investigated 59 industrially and amateurly produced Al powder sources with seven subsamples per source using two traditional linear discriminant analyses (LDA), one with a standard data split for training and testing, and another using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation. Averaging the classification accuracies for the two LDA‐based analyses, LDA has the ability to correctly classify 59.26%, 83.35%, and 80.69% of the samples based on their powder source, type, and production method, respectively. This classification accuracy represents a 3407%, 317%, and 61.38% increase in accuracy from random class assignment, respectively. Further, in most instances of incorrect data attribution to a particular source, the subsample has been misidentified with another sample of the same powder type or production method.

Ommen, Danica M.↗