CHAPTER VIII – Detonation Waves in Gases

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the detonation waves in gases. Detonation waves are shock waves that are sustained by the energy of the chemical reaction that is initiated by the shock compression. They develop from flames in tubes by coalescence of flame-generated pressure pulses into shock waves, and they propagate spherically in suitably strong mixtures when initiated by a small charge of high explosive. Their rate of propagation is limited by the rate at which a shock wave can travel. Therefore, it has been possible to develop the theory of propagation on the basis of hydrodynamics alone to such extent that detonation velocities may be computed from the physical properties of the explosive medium. The theory of shock and detonation waves comprises two phases, namely, the formation of shock waves in a compressible medium, specifically a gas, and maintenance of the shock wave by the energy of chemical reaction. Depending on various conditions, the compression waves may telescope into a shock front and the shock front may develop into a detonation wave.