Non-Reactive HMX Shock Hugoniot Data

Modified wedge tests and in situ pressure gauges have been used to measure the shock Hugoniot of HMX/water(1) mixtures. Making the assumption that the mixture is macroscopically homogeneous and isotropic, these data, and literature values for the equation of state of water, are used to deduce the Hugoniot of pure HMX. Shock strengths below 6.0 GPa produced no significant reaction near the shock front. Radiometric observation of the shocked mixture supports this conclusion. The new HMX shock velocity versus particle velocity curve is significantly below that published for solvent pressed HMX. Reactive flow hydrodynamic calculations indicate that as much as 3% – 7% HMX may have reacted in the experiments with solvent pressed material.