Shock response of pentaerythritol tetranitrate single crystals

The shock response of single crystals of the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate was studied from 3.4 to 19 GPa. Four orientations, 〈110〉, 〈001〉, 〈101〉, and 〈100〉 were studied. The shock Hugoniot and shock initiation sensitivities were measured in wedge tests. Intermediate velocity transitions were noted. A sensitivity anomaly near 4 GPa was discovered for 〈110〉 orientations. Chemiluminescent phenomena associated with this anomaly were studied using framing photography and uv/visible spectroscopy. Both plane-wave explosive and gas-gun impact experiments were done. Analysis of the steric hindrance occurring during edge dislocation motion in the shear flow associated with shock-induced uniaxial strain was done. The results corroborate the hypothesis that the orientation dependence of shock initiation sensitivity is due to the anisotropy of plastic flow, that is, the relative ease of slip in different orientations.