Characterization of Residues from the Detonation of Insensitive Munitions
ER-2219
Objective
Insensitive munitions (IM) are currently being tested and fielded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as a replacement for the conventional explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). IM explosive fillers are designed not to detonate when subjected to stimuli other than initiation by the munition's fuze. These stimuli include bullet or fragment impact, the shock wave from a nearby high-order detonation, or stress from overheating. Compounds such as 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-trizole-5-one (NTO) are key components in the emerging IM formulations that are fielded or proposed for these munitions.
The objective of this project is to address fundamental questions regarding the fate and transport of IM constituents, in particular how much energetic IM residue is deposited by specific training operations and what characteristics can lead these residues to enter the environment. Ordnance containing IM formulations will be detonated, and the residues deposited from high-order and low-order detonations, blow-in-place (BIP) of unexploded ordnance (UXO), and close-proximity detonation of a round near a UXO will be studied. Residues resulting from each scenario will be sampled, quantified, characterized, and shared with other research projects.
Technical Approach
This project will use technology and approaches previously developed under SERDP project ER-1481 to detonate projectiles without the need to fire them from a weapon. Specially designed fuzes will be used to initiate detonations on demand in a controlled environment. This will allow the collection of residues from high-order and partial detonations of different rounds. These detonations will be performed on a clean snow cover, and multi-increment sampling will be used to quantify the total mass (and concentration) of residues from each round type. The snow will be melted and the particles will be filtered for physical and chemical study without cross-contamination from previous detonation events or dilution from a soil matrix. The post-detonation particles will also be provided for use by SERDP project ER-2220 in a variety of laboratory and outdoor tests to measure dissolution rates and products, photodegradation characteristics, and how solutions containing these compounds interact with soils.
Benefits
Data for estimating the mass, distribution, particle size, and constituent concentrations of energetic residues from IM munitions detonated in the field will be generated by this project. Residues from simulated live-fire training operations will be collected to obtain the data needed to define the process descriptors for the fate and transport of some IM formulations containing NTO and DNAN. The deposition rates for the IM compounds will be useful in risk assessments. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2015)
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sonia Thiboutot
Defence R&D Canada - Valcartier (DRDC)
Phone: 418-844-4000
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.