Formation of Sparks from Abrasive Waterjet Cutting and Their Effects on Condensed Explosives

摘要

Sparks have been frequently noted in the process of abrasive waterjet cutting of explosive ordnance. These sparks have not, however, caused an ignition event in the nearly 200,000 items cut to date. Research performed into the mechanisms of spark formation, explosive initiation, and waterjet cutting process has shown that these sparks are benign when certain parameters are controlled. Alliant Techsystems has researched the use of high-pressure abrasive waterjets on the sectioning of high-explosive projectiles since 1990 in support of our demilitarization processes. The high pressure fluid testing has used fluid pressures of up to 1 gigapascal (147,000 psi) impacting both PETN and TNT without explosion. Testing performed by Alliant Techsystems with abrasives aspirated into the fluid stream, known as abrasive waterjets, have cut almost 200,000 projectiles containing aluminized high-explosive. The abrasive waterjet tests were conducted using water pressures of approximately 300 megapascals (45,000 psi) and were successfully performed without event.