A theory of the dependence of the rate of detonation of solid explosives on the diameter of the charge

Abstract

The velocity of a detonation wave, in a cylindrical charge of solid explosive, is shown to be dependent on the diameter of the charge, and the relation between the velocity and the diameter is calculated. It is shown that this effect depends upon the rate of the chemical reaction occurring in the front portions of the detonation wave, and that it is possible, therefore, to determine this rate of reaction by measuring the velocity of detonation in bare charges of different diameters. The effect of a metal case surrounding the charge is also briefly discussed.