Using Fiber Optics to determine Detonation Velocity during Surveillance Testing of the Sparrow MK 38 MOD 2 Fuze Booster

摘要

Fiber optics can be used successfully to determine detonation velocity on a wide range of energetic materials. The low cost and ease of preparation make their use ideal for this type of application. The benefits of collecting additional test data to verify the operation of all the different types of components used in the firing train can be very helpful in determining the true cause of any defects or anomalies that may occur when these items are subject to output functioning tests. The visual inspection performed on the MK 38 MOD 2 Fuze Booster revealed that some identification plates were hard to read. Additionally, some end caps were either loose or removed from the MK 38 Mod 2 Fuze Booster housing. This usually occurs during disassembly and is not a safety problem during the assembly processes. The safety or in-service use would not have been hampered. However, if the end cap is removed from the Fuze Booster, the booster pellet can fall from the booster and become a safety hazard to personnel during break down and disassembly. Therefore, it recommended that the deboostering of the SAD or TLA should be performed remotely because of the potential for accidental initiation of the exposed booster pellet.