Improved model of nonideal detonation of commercial explosives

Detonation parameters of most military explosives can be reliably determined using Chapman-Jouguet and Zeldovich-von Neumann-Doering hydrodynamical detonation theory. On the other hand, behaviour of commercial explosives shows a significant deviation from mentioned theories. Namely, significantly longer duration time of chemical reactions which characterizes these types of explosives causes a wider chemical reaction zone, which in turn results in a more significant radial expansion. All of this in turn results in a lower detonation velocity compared to a theoretically calculated value, as well as a strong dependence of detonation parameters to charge radius and existence and characteristics of confinement. This type of detonation (so called “non-ideal detonation”) represents a complex interdisciplinary problem usually described by Euler’s flow equations supplemented with reaction rate equations and equations of state of products and unreacted explosive. Several models of non-ideal detonation have been proposed, but considering the complexity of the problem, widely accepted, accurate and reliable enough model applicable on commercial explosive still does not exist.

The main goal of this research is to develop an improved model of non-ideal detonation based on Wood and Kirkwood’s slightly divergent flow detonation theory, coupled with thermochemical computer code. Main research objectives are a) collect a sufficient number of experimental data on detonation performance of commercial explosives as well as parameters that effect detonation characteristics, b) develop an improved reaction rate model and c) develop a confinement model to describe the effect of confinement of detonation parameters. This research will contribute to a better understanding of non-ideal detonation phenomena, especially processes in chemical reaction zone and the effects of individual parameters on detonation characteristics. In addition, part of the plan is to develop a computer tool that would enable more reliable prediction of work capacity of commercial explosives and contribute to better understanding of a explosive/rock interaction, as well as help in selection of explosive for a specific geotechnical purpose.

Project leader Professor Muhamed SućeskaFaculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

CROSBI: https://www.bib.irb.hr/pregled/znanstvenici/186903
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ERl7660AAAAJ&hl=en

Professor Mario Dobrilović, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

CROSBI: https://bib.irb.hr/lista-radova?autor=235290
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=b8SMEr0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Assistant professor Vječislav Bohanek, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

CROSBI: https://bib.irb.hr/lista-radova?autor=285883
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5sgGHikAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Assistant professor Vinko Škrlec, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

CROSBI: https://bib.irb.hr/lista-radova?autor=313755
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=biu9SMQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Researcher Siniša Stanković, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

CROSBI: https://bib.irb.hr/lista-radova?autor=356325

Assistant Barbara Štimac, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

CROSBI:https://www.bib.irb.hr/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0Qp51YUAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Professor Martin Braithwaite, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK

Web: https://www.lsc.phy.cam.ac.uk/directory/braithwaite

Professor Thomas Klapotke, Ludwig-Maximillian University, Munich, Gewrmany

Web: https://www.hedm.cup.uni-muenchen.de/personen/professors/klapoetke/index.html

Dr Miloslav Krupka, OZM Research, Pardubice, Czech Republic

Web: http://www.ozm.cz/en/ozm-team/

Dr Chan Hay Yee, Serene, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Web: https://enri.ntu.edu.sg/Research/ResearchStaff/Pages/Home.aspx

Conferences

1. Stimac, V. Bohanek, M. Dobrilović, M. Suceska, Prediction of Gurney velocity based on EXPLO5 code calculation results, Proceedings of the 23rd Seminar on New Trends in Researchof Energetic Materials (NTREM), University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology Institute of Energetic Materials, Pardubice, April 1–3, 2020, p.705-716.
2. Stanković, A. Pintera, V. Bohanek, V. Škrlec, Control measurements of seismic effects of blasting with ANFO explosive, Proc. Of the 6th International E-Conference on Advances in Engineering, Technology and Management - ICETM 2021, pp.14-21
3. Štimac Tumara, M. Sućeska, Calibration of pressure-based reaction rate law used for numerical modelling of non-ideal ANFO explosives, 27th Croatian Meeting of Chemist and Chemical Engineers HSKIKI, 2021 (Book of Abstracts)
4. Bohanek, M. Dobrilović, B. Štimac Tumara, P. Hartlieb, Bartul Marunić, Influence of charge diameter and thickness of confinement on detonation velocity of ANFO explosives, New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials, Czech Republic, 2022
5. Štimac Tumara, M. Sućeska, S. Stanković, V. Škrlec, Prediction of ANFO’s charge diameter effect on detonation parameters using hydrodynamic and thermochemical codes, New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials, Czech Republic, 2022
6. Škrlec, M. Dobrilović, V. Bohanek, I. Dobrilović, Blasting properties of low-density emulsion based mixtures, Proceedings of the 24th Seminar on New Trends in Researchof Energetic Materials (NTREM), University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology Institute of Energetic Materials, Pardubice, April 19-21, 2023.
7. Stankovic, B. Stimac Tumara, I. Dobrilovic, M. Suceska, Evaluation of input parameters for the non-ideal detonation model of emulsion explosives, Proceedings of the 24th Seminar on New Trends in Researchof Energetic Materials (NTREM), University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology Institute of Energetic Materials, Pardubice, April 19-21, 2023.

Journals

1. Stimac, Chan Hay Yee Serene, M. Künzel, M. Suceska, Numerical modeling of detonation reaction zone of nitromethane by EXPLO5 code and Wood and Kirkwood theory, Central European Journal of Energetic Materials 17(2), 2020, 239-261.
2. Suceska, Chan Hay Yee Serene, Z. Qingling, M. Dobrilovic, B. Stimac, Prediction of cylinder wall velocity profiles for ANFO explosives combining thermochemical calculation, Gurney model, and hydro-code, Propellants Explos. Pyrotech. 2020, 45.
3. Suceska, M. Dobrilovic, V. Bohanek, B. Stimac, Estimation of explosive energy output by EXPLO5 thermochemical code, Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie (ZAAC) 647 (4), (2020)), 231-238
4. Štimac, V. Škrlec, M. Dobrilović, M. Sućeska, Numerical modelling of non-ideal detonation in ANFO explosives applying Wood-Kirkwood theory coupled with EXPLO5 thermochemical code, Defence technologies 17 (5), (2020), 1740-1752
5. Suceska, B. Stimac Tumara, V. Skrlec, S. Stankovic, Prediction of concentration of toxic gases produced by detonation of commercial explosives by thermochemical equilibrium calculations, Defence Technology, 2021, online version
6. Suceska, H. Y. Serene Chan, B. Stimac, M. Dobrilovic, BKW EOS: History of Modifications and Further Improvement of Accuracy with Temperature-Dependent Covolumes of Polar Molecules, Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 2022, online version
7. Štimac Tumara, M. Dobrilović, V. Škrlec, M. Sućeska, Determination of detonation front curvature radius of ANFO explosives and its importance in numerical modelling of detonation with the Wood-Kirkwood model, The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin, 37(2) (2022) 97-107
8. Bohanek, M. Dobrilović, B. Štimac, S. Stanković, The efficiency of a small sized hand-made shaped charge, The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin, 37(2) (2022) 79-85
9. Suceska, B. Stimac Tumara, M. Dobrilovic, V. Bohanek, Estimation of detonation front curvature radius by empirical equations, Journal of Energetic Materials, 2022, online version
10. Stankovic, M. Katalinc, D. Kuhinek, V. Bohanek, Detecting Atypical Values and Their Influence on Blast-Induced Seismic Measurement Results, Applied Sciences, 12(12) (2022) 5820
11. Bohanek, M. Suceska, M. Dobrilovic, P. Hartlieb, Effect of Confinement on Detonation Velocity and Plate Dent Test Results for ANFO Explosive, Energies, 15 (2022) 4404
12. Suceska, B. Stimac Tumara, M. Künzel, Using thermochemical code EXPLO5 to predict the performance parameters of explosives, High Energy Materials, 13 (2021) 17-27
13. Stimac Tumara, M. Suceska, M. Dobrilovic, S. Stankovic, Numerical modeling of charge diameter effect on detonation properties of emulsion explosives using Wood-Kirkwood detonation model, Journal of Energetic Materials, July 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/07370652.2022.2102697
14. Bohanek, B. Stimac Tumara, C. Hay Yee Serene , M. Suceska, Shock initiation and propagation of detonation in ANFO, Energies, 2023, 16, 1744. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041744

• Invited Keynote Spiker

Prof. Muhamed Sućeska participated in the conference “2022 International conference on Defence Technology (2022 ICDT)” as an invited keynote spiker. He gave a lecture entitled „On the theoretical prediction of performance of explosives: Thermochemical calculations”. The conference was held in China during the 23-26 August 2022 in hybrid form (https://www.icdt-conf.com/).

• Invited Spiker

Prof. Muhamed Sućeska was an invited speaker at the conference “First Regional Symposium on Energetic Materials and their Application (RSEM 2022)“  (https://www.rsemta.com/) that was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 13 October, 2022. He gave a lecture with the title „Possibilities of theoretical prediction of performance of explosives “.

• Top cited article

M. Suceska, M. Dobrilovic, V. Bohanek, B. Stimac are the authors of the top cited article for period of 2021-2022 published in u Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie (ZAAC)  647 (4), (2020), 231-238. The title of the article is „Estimation of explosive energy output by EXPLO5 thermochemical code“.

• NTREM ’23 - Seminar on New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials, Pardubice, April 19–21, 2023.

We attended the conference „NTREM ’23 - Seminar on New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials“ that was held in Pardubice (Czech Republic) in the period April 19-21, 2023. At the conference we presented two papers related to the NEIDEMO project.

It was also an opportunity to meet our external members of the NEIDEMO project team: Prof. Martin Braithwaite, Prof. Thomas Klapotke, Dr. Miloslav Krupka i Dr. Chan Hay Yee Serene, and to plan new activities.

• Barbara Štimac participated on the 20^th and 21^st of February in Meeting of young chemical engineers, organised by Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Croatia, where she presented a work titled „Different effects on concentrations of harmful gaseous products during detonation of ANFO explosive “.

• In a span of three field days, from 3^rd to 14^th of July 2020 on a location Ljubešćica, first field measurements of ANFO explosive were obtained as a part of NEIDEMO project. Measurements were done on around 20 explosive charges with PVC confinement. Charge diameters were in a range from 50 mm to 160 mm and the goal of field measurements was determination of charge radius effect on detonation velocity and stabilization of detonation processes. Obtained results will be of great importance for calibration of parameters in non-ideal detonation model that are being developed as a part of this project.

• In a span of three field days, from 10th of November to 21st of December 2020 on a location Ljubešćica, second set of field measurements were obtained as a part of NEIDEMO project. Field measurements investigating the effect of curvature radius of detonation front dependent of a charge radius were obtained for ANFO explosive. Measurements were done on 11 explosive charges with the charge radius ranging from 75 mm to 160 mm. Obtained results will be of great importance for calibration of parameters in non-ideal detonation model that are being developed as a part of this project.

• In June 2022, associate professor Vječislav Bohanek and postdoctoral researcher Barbara Stimac Tumara spend a week in Erzberg Mine, Leoben, Austria. In collaboration with Montanuniversität Leoben and senior researcher Philipp Hartlieb, experimental measurements of continuous detonation velocity in boreholes were made as a first step in confinement modelling.