Initiation in heterogeneous energetic material (HEM) subjected to shock
loading occurs due to the formation of hot spots. The criticality of the hot
spots governs the initiation and sensitivity of HEMs. In porous energetic
materials, collapse of pores under impact leads to the formation of hot spots.
Depending on the size and strength of the hot spots chemical reaction can
initiate. The criticality of the hot spots is dependent on the imposed shock
load, void morphology and the type of energetic material. This work evaluates
the relative importance of material constitutive and reactive properties on the
criticality condition of spots. Using a scaling-based approach, the criticality
criterion for cylindrical voids as a function of shock pressure, Ps and void
diameter, Dvoid is obtained for two different energetic material HMX and TATB.
It is shown that the criticality of different energetic materials is
significantly dependent on their reactive properties
