Publications - Energetic Materials

This paper is intended to set the scene and to highlight issues of which an understanding is essential in order to aid development of techniques to predict the response of energetic materials in munitions subjected to thermomechanical stimuli. There are two main problems:

The NIMIC has recognised from its inception that its regular workshops constitute a significant factor in the advancement of IM technology in the member nations.

The NIMIC has recognised from its inception that its regular workshops constitute a significant factor in the advancement of IM technology in the member nations.

The NIMIC organised a workshop under the tit le "Small-scale Testing and Modelling", which was held at the Four Points Hotel, Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA from the 24th to 28th January 2000.

Building on an earlier document published in hard copy form by the NATO Insensitive Munitions Information Centre (NIMIC) in 1994, the NIMIC staff is continuing work on a database of energetic ingredients and formulations that have application in munition systems.

The NIMIC has organised a workshop under the title "Small-scale Testing and Modelling". This is due to be held at the Four Points Hotel, Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA from the 24th to 28th January 2000.

Member nations of NIMIC expressed the desire to reduce the amount of full-scale testing associated with IM assessment.

After defining Sensitivity, Sensitiveness and Explosiveness, the paper examines analytical expressions governing shock initiation by projectile impact, several different non-shock processes of ignition of deflagration and high strain rate fracture mechanics of energetic materials.

In 1997 NIMIC held a Workshop on IM Testing the aim of which was "to write guidance on full-scale IM testing in order to improve confidence in and achieve international acceptability and broader applicability of test results".

Over the last five years, NIMIC has organised a series of Workshops for its nations on the threats and stimuli which are relevant to the concerns of making munitions less hazardous.