At the time the propellants were selected for the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) C-4 program, a Hazard Assessment Panel was formed and a number of safety tests were done under the direction of the panel. The high specific impulse propellants needed for target range contained as much as 50% HMX. Fears, which later were proven true, were expressed regarding the safety of these propellants. The standard hazard tests, including the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory SUSAN, the Pantex SKID, and the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL) GAP test, were done on the candidate propellants. During the time of the joint R and D efforts, important advances were made in solid propellant formulation and manufacturing technology. The behavior of the non-Chapman-Jouget (CJ) detonations of the high- energy propellants, DDT and XDT, were better recognized. Perhaps the single most important advance was the introduction of the nitrate ester polyether (NEPE) binder by JV in the propellant formulation. The most important fundamental advance was the improved understanding of the relation between constitutive properties, fracture mechanics, and threshold of initiation of reaction. For instance, LLNL, in conjunction with Stanford Research Institute (SRI), showed that ignition was induced in a NEPE first-stage propellant by spallation caused by reflection of a 0.5-GPa impact elastic wave. Combined with the improved formulations and the experimental program, the flight tests--and now fleet safety records--have produced confidence in the overall safety of current propellants. There is, however, a nagging doubt, emphasized by the Drell report, that the intrinsic ease of shock initiation of the high-energy NEPE propellants could make possible a catastrophic accident with accompanying plutonium dispersal. Such an accident would have grave consequences in our national defense stance.


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    Title :

    Propellants and explosives in ballistic missiles


    Contributors:
    E. James (author)

    Publication date :

    1993


    Size :

    42 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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