The initiation of condensed explosives by shock waves from metals

Abstract When a shock wave is transmitted from a metal to a solid explosive a pure shock wave is transmitted into the explosive. The shock generally builds up to a complete detonation wave but in some cases it fails to initiate the explosive. In the former case an effective delay time in the initiation of the explosive is observed. Initiation delays have been measured in 2 in. diam. sticks of 60/40 RDX/TNT as a function of incident shock strength in mild steel and aluminium .