Identification of Aluminium Powder Properties for Modelling Free Air Explosions

Aluminium is a component in many energetic formulations. Therefore, its combustion is one of the main thermochemical processes that govern the output from the energetics. Modelling aluminium combustion is a challenging task because the process is highly complex and difficult to measure. Here, tests of aluminium powder were conducted in an effort to isolate the burning of the aluminium and to determine an adequate representation of this process. Charges of 100 g and 500 g were tested, and the size of the Al/air cloud and the ratio of components in the Al/air mixture were determined, which has not been published previously. This information was used to assess the validity of the assumption that the detonation of the mixture was representative of the event. Parameters for the Jones–Wilkins–Lee equation of state for the explosive mixture and detonation products were defined. Simulations of the tests were performed, and the results were consistent with the field test data, indicating that detonation occurred when there was a mixture of 70–75% Al and 25–30% air by mass.