ISSN Online: 2379-1748
ISBN Flash Drive: 978-1-56700-469-4
ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-470-0
Second Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference
PREDICTION MODEL AND VERIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVE IGNITION IN EXPLODING FOIL INITIATOR SYSTEM
Abstract
In exploding foil initiator (EFI) system, ignition of explosive charges can be realized through high speed impact
of small plastic film flyer onto explosive surface, after a flyer is sheared out of plastic film and accelerated due to
pulsed electrical energy deposition into thin metallic bridge. In this theoretical study, a numerical modeling has
been established in order to predict and closely investigate a series of complex phenomena in EFI system which
include metallic bridge burst and plasma expansion by joule heating followed by flyer acceleration and explosive
charge detonation. Present computational models for thermal behavior of vaporized metallic bridge and flyer
acceleration are coupled with plasma properties and RLC circuit equation. When compared with experimental
data for modeling verification, the present modeling predicts flyer velocity very well for wide range of charging
voltage. The explosive detonation threshold by flyer impact is also predicted and discussed, while the ignition
threshold characteristics from present modeling agree well with corresponding test results.