Characterizing the Run-to-Detonation Distance of HNS by Gap Test Experiments and Simulations

The shock sensitivity of explosives and propellants is an important safety characteristic for developing insensitive munitions (IM). In this work the shock-to-detonation transition of Hexanitrostilbene (HNS-II) is investigated in a modified 21mm PMMA gap test. Time of Arrival (ToA) measurements determine the run-to-detonation distance (RDD) of the specimen. Combined with the calibrated donor/gap system this results in a Pop plot which is compared to numerical results and used to calibrate a reactive burn model.