A Study of Fragmentation in a Ni-Al Structural Energetic Material

POSTER

Abstract

A study of fragmentation behavior of a Ni-Al structural energetic material was undertaken to determine fragment size and distribution as well as study the impact of material microstructure on the fragmentation process. Rings were fabricated from a nearly 100{\%} TMD Ni-Al structural energetic material and subjected to explosive fragmentation experiments. Fragments were recovered for subsequent analysis; PDV velocity data was concurrently collected. Recovered fragments show negligible ductility suggesting that brittle fracture behavior dominates the fragmentation process. Quantitative microscopy and comparisons with existing fragmentation models are presented.

*This research was funded by ONR/MURI grant No. N00014-07-1-0740 and the SMART scholarship program.

Authors

  • B. Aydelotte

    • Georgia Institute of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering, 771 Ferst Drive, N.W., Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245
    • Georgia Institute of Technology

  • C.H. Braithwaite

    • Fracture and Shock Physics, SMF Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson
    • Fracture and Shock Physics, SMF Group, Cavendish Laboratory

  • N.N. Thadhani

    • Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Georgia Institute of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering, 771 Ferst Drive, N.W., Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245

  • M. Trexler

    • United States Army Research Laboratory

  • David Williamson

    • Fracture and Shock Physics, SMF Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Ave., Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
    • University of Cambridge
    • Fracture and Shock Physics, SMF Group, Cavendish Laboratory