A Modified Aquarium Test Using a Continuous Pressure-Conducted Velocity Probe for Measurement of Detonation Pressure

In order to measure the detonation pressure of large mass explosive more convenient in the field work, a modified aquarium test has been designed by using a self-developed continuous pressure-conducted velocity probe (CPVP). The method can continuously record the trajectories of detonation and shock wave fronts in a single test. In addition, a simplified aquarium test method based on the novel velocity probe was designed to further simplify the experimental setup and operation process. By using the two type of devices, detonation pressure measurements for the different ammonium-nitrate/fuel-oil (ANFO) ratio explosives were performed and the time history curves of detonation-shock wave fronts were measured. The detonation velocity of each shot was then obtained by fitting the detonation wave data, and the initial shock velocity was determined based on the shock wave data of the medium adjacent to the explosive. Based on the shock Hugoniot curves of water and Plexiglas, we calculated the CJ pressures and adiabatic exponents of each test based on impedance matching principle. The experimental results show that the CPVP-based aquarium test can measure the detonation velocity and detonation pressure accurately and efficiently. The CPVP-based aquarium test method will be a significant supplement technique for explosive performance estimation.