Developments of hot spots in energetic materials

A thermal model was used to study the formation of hot spots in energetic materials responsible for the transition of deflagration to detonation. Hot spots are defined theor. as a short, focused energy input which is caused by a shock wave or penetrating hot gas. Solving the heat flow equation some interesting cases are discussed. An inert material can only spread out the heat pulses to a uniform distribution. A reactive material pyrolyzes by formation of craters or ignites. Depending on the d. of the hot spots and the intensity of the energy input the reacting front follows the generating wave immediately or delayed.