Temperature and strain rate effects on the mechanical properties of a polymer-bonded explosive

The aim of the research reported here was to investigate the strain rate and temperature sensitivity of Rowanex 1100 Type 1A, a polymer-bonded explosive (PBX). The stress supported by this PBX at high rates of deformation (1750 +/- 225 s(-1)) was found to be about an order of magnitude greater than that supported at low rates (0.015 s(-1)). Temperature was also found to have a large effect, with the strength of the material decreasing exponentially with temperature over the range studied (-60 to +60 degrees C). The exponents for the decay of the PBX's strength with temperature at both low and high strain rates were the same within experimental error. So a temperature/strain rate shift factor could be determined and was found to be 31.2 +/- 2.4 K/decade of strain rate.