The sensitiveness of explosives - A statistical test for percussion sensitiveness of initiators (ball and disk machine)

Abstract

Apparatus is described for subjecting various initiators to accurately reproducible blows, in such a way as to permit a large number of impact trials without undue labour, and thereby to determine probability of detonation for blows of graded violence. Plots of the probability of detonation are given for various initiators, in relation to the velocity, momentum and kinetic energy of the steel drifts used for imparting the blow. It is not yet clear which of these factors is most important in determining sensitiveness to percussion.