Simulation and fabrication of reactive metamaterials for controllable energy response

Abstract

Simulations and experiments were conducted to control the shock‐to‐detonation transition by energy trapping in localized regions of nitromethane that contained arrays of embedded dense particles (tantalum rods). The localizations were additively manufactured and designed with simulations carried out with ALE3D, that used the ignition and growth reactive flow model for the explosive. Modelling demonstrated enhanced reactivity when the tantalum rods were present, leading to a detonation that otherwise did not occur for the same strength shock without rods. Experiments that confirmed predictions of the simulation were conducted using Fritz plane wave lenses to drive various input shocks into the system. Photon doppler velocimetry was the primary diagnostic used to measure shock input and reaction progression. These results suggest that it is possible design explosives to localize sensitivity to shock loading within an insensitive material increasing the overall safety of fielded energetic materials.