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Encyclopedia > Detonation
A weapons cache is detonated at the East River Range on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan

Detonation is a process of supersonic combustion in which a shock wave is propagated forward due to energy release in a reaction zone behind it. It is the more powerful of the two general classes of combustion, the other one being deflagration. In a detonation, the shock compresses the material thus increasing the temperature to the point of ignition. The ignited material burns behind the shock and releases energy that supports the shock propagation. This self-sustained detonation wave is different from a deflagration, which propagates at a subsonic speed (i.e., slower than the sound speed of the explosive material itself), and without a shock or any significant pressure change. Because detonations generate high pressures, they are usually much more destructive than deflagrations. A weapons cache is detonated at the East River Range on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. ... A weapons cache is detonated at the East River Range on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. ... A combustion reaction taking place in a igniting match Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames. ... Introduction The shock wave is one of several different ways in which a gas in a supersonic flow can be compressed. ... A combustion reaction taking place in a igniting match Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames. ... A log in a fire place. ... The Chapman-Jouguet condition holds approximately in detonation waves. ... A log in a fire place. ...


The simplest theory to predict the behavior of detonations in gases is known as Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) theory, developed around the turn of the 20th century. This theory, described by a relatively simple set of algebraic equations, models the detonation as a propagating shock wave accompanied by exothermic heat release. Such a theory confines the chemistry and diffusive transport processes to an infinitely thin zone.


A more complex theory was advanced during World War II independently by Zel'dovich, von Neumann, and Doering. This theory, now known as ZND theory, admits finite-rate chemical reactions and thus describes a detonation as an infinitely thin shock wave followed by a zone of exothermic chemical reaction. In the reference frame in which the shock is stationary, the flow following the shock is subsonic. Because of this, energy release behind the shock is able to be transported acoustically to the shock for its support. For a self-propagating detonation, the shock relaxes to a speed given by the Chapman-Jouguet condition, which induces the material at the end of the reaction zone to have a locally sonic speed in the reference frame in which the shock is stationary. In effect, all of the chemical energy is harnessed to propagate the shock wave forward. Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich (Russian:Яков Борисович Зельдович) (March 8, 1914 – December 2, 1987) was a prolific Soviet physicist. ... A separate article covers Saint John Neumann, the American priest. ... The Chapman-Jouguet condition holds approximately in detonation waves. ...


Both CJ and ZND theories are one-dimensional and steady. However, in the 1960s experiments revealed that gas-phase detonations were most often characterized by unsteady, three-dimensional structures, which can only in an averaged sense be predicted by one-dimensional steady theories. Modern computations are presently making progress in predicting these complex flow fields. Many features can be qualitatively predicted, but the multi-scale nature of the problem makes detailed quantitative predictions very difficult.


Detonations can be produced by high explosives, reactive gaseous mixtures, certain dusts and aerosols. Thermonuclear detonations may be involved in some Type Ia supernova explosions. This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Multiwavelength X-ray image of the remnant of Keplers Supernova, SN 1604. ...


Applications

Detonations are hard to control and are used primarily for demolition and in warfare. A great deal of research is conducted on achieving or preventing detonation in various materials to improve the performance of explosives and engines. An experimental form of jet propulsion, the pulse detonation engine, uses a series of well-timed detonations to generate thrust. Demolition of the Old Myer Building, Perth, Western Australia. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising human knowledge on different aspects of the world. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...


Detonation in four-stroke engines is caused by the detonation (knocking) of the unburnt portion of the fuel (due to its overly high sensitivity to heat and pressure of the particular fuel under certain conditions) resulting in a pressure wave. This force is extremely destructive to common piston engines, and often results in holes blown through the top of pistons or cracks in cylinder heads. This is different from knocking in diesel engines, which use heat and pressure as the primary source of ignition. In diesel engines, low sensitivity to these conditions results in ignition being delayed while a highly detonable mixture accumulates, causing detonation when ignition finally occurs. Diesel fuel has a cetane number much like petrol has an octane rating, except that it represents increasing sensitivity while the octane rating represents decreasing sensitivity. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Engine knocking. ... The four-stroke cycle (or Otto cycle) of an internal combustion engine is the cycle most commonly used for automotive and industrial purposes today (cars and trucks, generators, etc). ... Knocking (also called pinking or pinging)— colloquially detonation—in internal combustion engines occurs when air/fuel mixture in the cylinder has been ignited by the spark plug and the smooth burning is interrupted by the unburned mixture in the combustion chamber exploding before the flame front can reach it. ... For the use of the term in optics, see piston (optics). ... The cylinder head from a GMC van. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Cetane number or CN is to diesel fuel what octane rating is to gasoline. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...


Etymology

Look up Detonation in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

French détoner, to explode; from Latin detonare, to expend thunder; from de-, ~off + tonare, to thunder Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ...


See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
A Low Cost, Reliable, Hermetically Sealed, Chip Slapper Detonator Suitable for Various Aerospace Applications (2776 words)
Detonator is designed to be fired with a Capacitor Discharge Unit (CDU) fireset with a capacitor in the range of 0.05 to 0.3 µF. The CDU supplies a rapidly rising current pulse on the order of several thousand amps to the detonator to cause it to function.
The detonators were also subjected to a constant current at 45% of the MNDC level established for the detonators (2 Amps) for three minutes.
The specified detonators were subjected to thermal shock between temperatures of -46° C and +71° C. The detonators were subjected to a total of 35 cycles, beginning with the cold temperature.
Exploding-bridgewire detonator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (420 words)
The exploding-bridgewire detonator (EBW, also known as exploding wire detonator) was invented by Luis Alvarez and Lawrence Johnston for the Fat Man-type bombs of the Manhattan Project, during their work in Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The implosion had to be very symmetric or the plutonium would simply squirt out at the low-pressure points.
The EBW and the slapper detonator are the safest known types of detonators, as only very high-current fast-rise pulse can successfully trigger them.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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