Dynamic measurements of detonation velocity profiles are performed using long Chirped Fiber Bragg Gratings (CFBGs). Such thin probes, with a diameter of typically 150 µm, are inserted directly into a high explosive sample or simply positioned laterally. During the detonation, the width of the reflected optical spectrum is continuously reduced by the propagation of the wave-front, which physically shortens the CFBG. The reflected optical intensity delivers a ramp down signal type, which is directly related to the detonation velocity profile. Experimental detonation velocity measurements were performed on the side of three different high explosives (TNT, B2238 and V401) in a bare cylindrical stick configuration (diameter: 2 inches, height: 10 inches). The detonation velocity range covered was 6800 to 9000 m/s. The extraction of the detonation velocity profiles requires a careful calibration of the system and of the CFBG used. A calibration procedure was developed, with the support of optical simulations, to cancel out the optical spectrum distortions from the different optical components and to determine the wavelength-position transfer function of the CFBG in a reproducible way. The 40-mm long CFBGs were positioned within the second half of the three high explosive cylinders. The excellent linearity of the computed position-time diagram confirms that the detonation was established for the three high explosives. The fitted slopes of the position-time diagram give detonation velocity values which are in very good agreement with the classical measurements obtained from discrete electrical shorting pins.

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Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) are used to measure shock velocity, detonation velocity, shock wave profile or pressure profile in inert and energetic materials. Such thin probe, with a diameter below 150 µm, can be inserted directly into materials without disturbing the physical phenomena. Chirped FBGs are used to track the shock wave in the grating using wavelengths. The velocity (few km/s) and shock wave profile measurements are realized by recording the CFBG's reflected spectral width. Pressure measurements at few GPa levels use dynamic spectrometers, two approaches are compared: parallel acquisition using an Arrayed-Waveguide-Grating and time-multiplexing by wavelength-to-time conversion using dispersion.

Dynamic measurements of shock and detonation velocities are performed using long chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBGs). Such thin probes, with a diameter of typically 125 µm or even 80 µm can be directly inserted into high-explosive (HE) samples or simply glued laterally. During the detonation, the width of the optical spectrum is continuously reduced by the propagation of the wave-front, which physically shortens the CFBG. The light power reflected back shows a ramp-down type signal, from which the wave-front position is obtained as a function of time, thus yielding a detonation velocity profile. A calibration procedure was developed, with the support of optical simulations, to cancel out the optical spectrum distortions from the different optical components and to determine the wavelength-position transfer function of the CFBG. The fitted slopes of the X–T diagram give steady detonation velocity values which are in very good agreement with the classical measurements obtained from discrete electrical shorting pins (ESP). The main parameters influencing the uncertainties on the steady detonation velocity value measured by CFBG are discussed. To conclude, different HE experimental configurations tested at CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives) are presented: bare cylindrical sticks, wedges for shock-to-detonation transitions (SDT), spheres, a cast-cured stick around a CFBG, and a detonation wave-front profile configuration.

Radio interferometry techniques are often used to investigate shock and detonation phenomena thanks to the radio‐transparency of high explosives in the gigahertz frequency band. These techniques require the knowledge of the permittivity of studied explosives. Although the permittivity has been thoroughly studied for many materials, very few data are available at high frequencies (>75 GHz) for high explosives. In this paper, we report static measurement data of the permittivity for various reactive materials using the standard line transmission method between 75 GHz and 110 GHz (W frequency Band), and we present dynamic measurement results at 94 GHz obtained from the so‐called detonation wavefront tracking method. It is shown that the measurement results provided by these two methods are in good agreement. As a consequence, this work validates the detonation wavefront tracking method for the dynamic measurement of high explosives permittivity, and shows that the static experimental results are relevant for shock wave propagation analysis from millimeter‐wave measurement techniques.

The experiments have a key role in the initiation and transition studies of solid high explosives. Detonic has forced scientist to improve their experimental approach by designing relevant setup and developing accurate metrological devices. For example, the wedge or pop-plot test was developed in the 50's and remains a legacy experiment in the characterization of high explosive. However, for 70 years, it has been widely improved, because of the accurate measurements need. This paper aims to review the main improvements performed on the pop-plot test and analyze a series of results acquired on melt-cast and castcured high explosives. We first describe the current setup with its new metrological devices. Then, we discuss the results and limitations of this test.

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We present dynamic optical strain measurements on a metallic cylinder asymmetrically loaded by explosives bands using 24 fiber Bragg gratings distributed along three fibers. The 100 MHz dispersive spectrometer reveals resonances without any electromagnetic perturbations compared to slower electrical strain gauges.