Numerical Simulation of Suspended RDX Dust Detonation in a Shock Tube

Dust detonation of RDX particles suspended in air was numerically studied with two-phase flow model. Behind the leading shock front of detonation, RDX particles were accelerated and heated by the gas flow. Melt of RDX occurred on the surface of particles. It was assumed that melted part of particle was stripped by the gas flow and decomposition reaction happened instantaneously, during the energy is released to support the propagation of detonation wave. Development and propagation of dust detonation with different particle sizes and different concentration was numerically simulated and the parameters of detonation were obtained. Distribution of pressure, temperature, velocity behind leading shock front was calculated. Parameters of dust detonation were determined. When the concentration of RDX dust is low, pulsating mode of peak pressure history of detonation front occurred. Numerical simulation results showed that when the concentration of RDX dust was between 80 g/m3 and 150 g/m3, history of peak pressure of detonation wave front was regular pulsating. When the concentration was 70 g/m3, the pulsating was irregular.