Effect of loading conditions and the initial state on the spalling of an octogen-based high explosive

The results of studies on the spalling of an OTK-90 high-explosive composition under impact loading are presented. Specimens 20-105 mm thick were loaded with the impact of 1.0- and 1.6-mm-thick steel plates explosively accelerated up to velocities of 135-380 m/s. The elastoplastic problem was used to numerically calculate the conditions of loading and spalling. The data obtained were used to derive a simple empirical equation relating maximum tensile stress in a spall plane with the stress gradient in a tensile impulse and maximum stress in a shock wave. The stabilization of specimens is shown to lead to a certain reduction in spalling stresses. © 2000 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.