The Hugoniot and shock sensitivity of a plastic‐bonded TATB explosive PBX 9502

The plane shock response of PBX 9502 was measured from 0.5 to 25 GPa. The explosive is 95‐wt. % triamino‐trinitrobenzene powder coated with Kel‐F 800 plastic; porosity was 2.6%. Shock initiation sensitivity, the Hugoniot, and dynamic yield behavior were studied. Experiments done were explosively driven wedge tests and particle velocity history measurements using electromagnetic gauges at a light‐gas gun. A new analysis of the wedge test was implemented. Based on wedge test results, an approximation for the particle velocity at the shock front is constructed, which is used in functional composition with the Hugoniot to calculate the shock path of each experiment. Optimization on the parameters of the approximation and the Hugoniot simultaneously ensures agreement of the Hugoniot with the overall kinematics of the shock growth as well as the particle velocity/shock velocity data. The individual shock paths are used to examine the single‐curve buildup assumption; the assumption is not valid for PBX 9502. A r...