Spherical implosion from one detonator possible?

[November 5]

Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

[Lloyd E. Sponenburgh]

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Were it so, various governments wouldn't spend so much money solving
that problem with multiple initiators and precision-delay devices.

Please build your nuclear weapon elsewhere than in a fireworks group;
rec.pyrotechnics is about fireworks. I'm sure the alt.engr.explosives
guys will have some comments for your review.

LLoyd

[Peter Fairbrother]

Post by Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use

of

Post by November 5
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Were it so, various governments wouldn't spend so much money solving
that problem with multiple initiators and precision-delay devices.
Please build your nuclear weapon elsewhere than in a fireworks group;
rec.pyrotechnics is about fireworks. I'm sure the alt.engr.explosives
guys will have some comments for your review.

While I agree that it's a bit OT for rec.pyrotechnics, and probably for
alt.engr.explosives too, just thought I'd mention that the actual answer
is yes, it is possible:

Section 4.1.6.2.2.3 Advanced Wave Shaping Techniques,
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4.html


If you want to discuss the design of nuclear weapons, try
alt.war.nuclear. The technique isn't actually used in nuclear weapons
however.


-- Peter Fairbrother

[November 5]

Post by Peter Fairbrother

Post by Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use

of

Post by November 5
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Were it so, various governments wouldn't spend so much money solving
that problem with multiple initiators and precision-delay devices.
Please build your nuclear weapon elsewhere than in a fireworks group;
rec.pyrotechnics is about fireworks. I'm sure the alt.engr.explosives
guys will have some comments for your review.

While I agree that it's a bit OT for rec.pyrotechnics, and probably for
alt.engr.explosives too, just thought I'd mention that the actual answer
Section 4.1.6.2.2.3 Advanced Wave Shaping Techniques,
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4.html
If you want to discuss the design of nuclear weapons, try
alt.war.nuclear. The technique isn't actually used in nuclear weapons
however.
-- Peter Fairbrother

Thanks; a feast for the inquisitive mind.

N5

[hhc314]

Post by Peter Fairbrother

Post by Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use

of

Post by November 5
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Were it so, various governments wouldn't spend so much money solving
that problem with multiple initiators and precision-delay devices.
Please build your nuclear weapon elsewhere than in a fireworks group;  
rec.pyrotechnics is about fireworks.  I'm sure the alt.engr.explosives
guys will have some comments for your review.

While I agree that it's a bit OT for rec.pyrotechnics, and probably for
alt.engr.explosives too, just thought I'd mention that the actual answer
Section 4.1.6.2.2.3 Advanced Wave Shaping Techniques,http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4.html
If you want to discuss the design of nuclear weapons, try
alt.war.nuclear. The technique isn't actually used in nuclear weapons
however.
-- Peter Fairbrother- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Peter, the general answer is no, and while it is remotely possible,
the answer is it isn't very likely and never employed.

Finally, hree suggestions:

Don't ever look to any alt. newsgroup for credible information on
anything.

Find out what a company named EG&G produces, and why strobe bulbs are
used to trigger the multiple detonators.

Finally, since this topic is totally off-topic in rec.pyrotechnics,
I'd suggest that you locate a sci. or engineering newsgroup where it
is remotely on-topic. Were it me, sci.physics might be a good
beginning. Also, Google is your friend!

Harry C. (resident curmudgeon and actually a physicist)

[boom.armstrong]

Good to see a post from you again Harry. It has been a while.

[Me]

In article

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Anything "May" be possible, but if the Los AlAmos Guys can't figure out
how to do it, and haven't by now, with simulation software running on
the Cray Supercomputers at Livermore Labs, it isn't really a likely way
to go.....

Me Just an Old Time Powderman.......

[Richard Casady]

On Wed, 5 Aug 2009 01:59:47 -0700 (PDT), November 5

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

No. You can come close, close enough to fission all, or nearly all.
of the Pu.

Casady

[michael michalchik]

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

I suspect that it would be possible if you could mix different
velocity materials continuously in three dimensions. You would want to
conduct a very fast initiation wave around the whole outside. Then you
would need materials distributed radially so that their rate of
detonation compensated for the delay in initiation. The slower
detonating material would also have to be more energetic to compensate
for the energy bleeding away during the slower burn. I doubt we either
have the materials or the processes to create such a distribution in
reality.

[Jim Hawkins]

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Depends how smooth and accurately spherical a wavefront you want. If not
very, then a bunch of equal lengths of detonating cord each with one end on
a booster surrounding the detonator and with the other ends suitably
equi-spaced round the sphere and terminated normal to its surface in small
boosters might be good enough.
But I've never seen it done or tried it myself.

Jim Hawkins

[Snag]

Post by Jim Hawkins

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use
of different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Depends how smooth and accurately spherical a wavefront you want. If
not very, then a bunch of equal lengths of detonating cord each with
one end on a booster surrounding the detonator and with the other
ends suitably equi-spaced round the sphere and terminated normal to
its surface in small boosters might be good enough.
But I've never seen it done or tried it myself.
Jim Hawkins

Flat wave generator . Simple in theory , hard to describe . Think of it as a
series of Y's , each pair of arms initiates the stems of another pair of Y's
. Six deep will give 64 ignition points for the det cord .

[Darel Finley]

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Too late to comment on this old thread? I tried a logarithmic spiral, and it looks like it might work, but I'm no expert. Here's my drawing: Loading Image...

[Darel Finley]

Post by Darel Finley

Post by November 5
Is it possible by clever design of the explosive lenses and the use of
different energetic/inert materials, to get a detonation wave that
implodes upon a centre as a uniform sphere?

Too late to comment on this old thread? I tried a logarithmic spiral, and it looks like it might work, but I'm no expert. Here's my drawing: http://alienryderflex.com/one_point_implosion.png

Drat, someone already thought of it. Up in the thread, in the link to "paragraph 4.1.6.2.2.3": Loading Image... My diagram is clearer, but it's exactly the same thing. :|